LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake man accused of shooting several of his estranged wife’s family members and killing one of them is set to go to preliminary hearing in April.

Ezequiel Bravo, 24, is charged with one count of murder, four counts of attempted murder, assault with a firearm and a host of other charges for the Dec. 1 shooting at the Elem Indian Colony in Clearlake Oaks.

Authorities say that early that morning Bravo went to the home of his in-laws, Robert and Stephanie Brown, forced his way in and shot the couple, as well as his wife’s aunt, Theresa Brown, and Theresa Brown's 6-year-old daughter.

Theresa Brown, 45, died of her injuries at the scene, while the other three shooting victims survived.

Bravo fled the scene, only to be captured hours later at Pomo Elementary School in Clearlake.

District Attorney Don Anderson said Bravo’s preliminary hearing originally had been set for February, and has been rescheduled for April 5.

Bravo’s attorney, Angela Carter, said she expects the preliminary hearing will in fact go forward on that date, although she said she’s not sure she will have all of the law enforcement reports on the case by that time.

Anderson said it’s believed that Bravo shot his wife’s relatives because he was upset that she was leaving him.

One of the remarkable aspects of the case is how Bravo was taken into custody at Pomo Elementary School about seven hours after the shooting occurred.

In the hours after the shooting, the sheriff’s office put out a Nixle alert to community members warning  them to be on the lookout for Bravo, who was armed and dangerous and at that time the subject of an extensive manhunt.

That morning, Pomo Elementary Principal Diane Johnson saw the Nixle and a short time later, while she was out on the campus, she saw Bravo, Anderson said.

“The principal saw him walking through the yard. He had actually gone to the office and gotten a visitor pass,” and went into a classroom to see his younger brother, Anderson said.

Johnson went to her office, looked at the Nixle, then went to the classroom to get a better look at him. She realized he was the wanted man and called Clearlake Police, Anderson said.

Anderson said police arrived, and they, Johnson and Assistant Principal Joseph Madrid faced a difficult situation in which they had a homicide suspect in a room full of little children.

He said they devised a plan that included Madrid volunteering to go into the classroom and get Bravo to come outside with him.

Madrid succeeded in calmly escorting Bravo out of the classroom to the police waiting outside, Anderson said.

After getting Bravo to come out, Madrid would confess to authorities that he was scared to death, Anderson said.

Last week, the Lake County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association honored Johnson and Madrid for their courageous assistance in Bravo’s apprehension.

Anderson was joined by acting Clearlake Police Chief Tim Celli, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, Sheriff Brian Martin and Lt. Hector Paredes, commander of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office, at the Board of Supervisors meeting in Lakeport on March 7.

Anderson said they will oftentimes see acts of bravery and heroics, but on occasion, “We actually see someone who goes beyond the norm.”

Describing the situation, Anderson said, “It’s very hard to explain what they went through, and what could have happened,” adding that it could have been disastrous.

He lauded Johnson and Madrid for risking their lives to protect the children.

Martin presented an award to Johnson, explaining that law enforcement is the third most important profession, after parenting and teaching. He said law enforcement can’t do its job without the community’s assistance.

Celli, who presented the award to Madrid, noted, “This was an extremely brave act,” involving confronting a potentially armed suspect in a classroom full of children.

“It just kind of makes your heart sink a little bit,” Celli said.

Madrid, without hesitation, went into the classroom, talked to Bravo and got him to come out safely. “And that’s what matters,” said Celli, adding that Madrid disregarded his own personal safety to protect students.

Neither Johnson or Madrid offered any statements at the meeting. When contacted by Lake County News about the honors for her and for Madrid, Johnson referred comment to Konocti Unified Superintendent Donna Becnel. Becnel, in turn, refused comment.

Bravo remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, with bail set at $7 million.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.