Brittney Harris, a mother of four who worked with students at the college, was pursuing a path toward registered nursing.
MADERA, Calif. — A Merced College student and employee remembered for helping others is being mourned after authorities say her estranged husband fatally shot her Sunday outside a Madera County restaurant before fleeing and being arrested several hours later.
Brittney Harris, 38, worked in the counseling center at Merced College and was enrolled in fall classes while preparing to apply to the school’s registered nursing program. Her family identified her by her maiden name after the shooting, while the Madera County Sheriff’s Office identified her as Brittney Moreno.
Merced College said it notified students Sunday evening of the death of a student and dedicated employee but initially withheld her identity while official notifications were being completed. The college also announced grief counseling and support for students and employees affected by the loss.
Harris was often among the first people students encountered when seeking counseling services, according to reporting by ABC30. She had also graduated from Merced College’s nurse assistant program. Her children described her as a strong and independent woman who looked after people around her.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded shortly after 11:30 a.m. Sunday to reports of shots fired at a Denny’s near Avenue 18 1/2 and Golden State Boulevard. Deputies found Harris with multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle and provided emergency aid until medical crews arrived.
Harris was transported to a nearby hospital but died from her injuries. Sheriff Tyson Pogue said investigators determined that Harris and her estranged husband, 51-year-old David Moreno, had been eating at the restaurant before going outside. Authorities allege Moreno shot Harris after they left the restaurant and then fled.
A bystander captured video of a white Toyota RAV4 leaving the area, according to law enforcement accounts. Investigators later located Moreno in the same type of vehicle after deputies checking a possible address saw him leave. Madera County authorities coordinated with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to make a traffic stop.
Moreno was arrested at about 3:45 p.m. near Highway 41 and Manning Avenue, roughly four hours after the shooting. Authorities said he was taken into custody without incident and returned to Madera County. ABC30 reported Tuesday that he was being held on $1 million bail.
Newly reported court records add another dimension to the case. Harris had an active restraining order against Moreno, and the estranged couple had been scheduled for a court appearance Sept. 1. The most recent order alleged verbal, mental and emotional abuse, according to records reviewed by ABC30.
KMPH reported that the Sheriff’s Office listed Moreno on a murder charge under California Penal Code Section 187(a). The case remains subject to court proceedings, and the criminal allegations against Moreno have not been proven.
The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the shooting. As the criminal case moves forward, Harris’ death is also being felt at Merced College, where the school has offered support to a campus community that knew her as both a student and a colleague.
Author note: Last updated September 1, 2026.