Community mourning the loss of Brawley business owner
The Brawley community is still in mourning after one of their own lost his life Saturday morning.
Family members of Ryan Harsany, owner of the Inferno restaurant in Brawley, still haven’t come to terms with his death.
The victim’s brother, Brian Harsany, said, “We’re still trying to wrap our brain around he’s actually not really here you know.”
Saturday morning, authorities near the San Bernardino area were answering a silent alarm at the skating rink Harsany owned. Harsany was found unconscious and the business had been set on fire.
Jodi Miller, of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, said, “Fire was burning inside the business. The victim was transported to a local area hospital and it was determined that he had suffered gunshot wounds.”
San Bernardino police said there aren’t any leads in the suspected homicide.
“[There] has not been a suspect identified or arrested at this time. We asking anyone who may have been in or around the area at that time if they saw anything suspicious, possibly suspect vehicles or anything. To please contact our special investigations division,” said Miller.
Katie Luna, CEO of the Brawley Chamber of Commerce, remembered Harsany not only as a business leader who rejuvenated the downtown Brawley district but also as someone who touched the lives of many.
Of Harsany, Luna said, “A light of our plaza and so much all year round revolve around that corner. It’s just going to be impossible not to remember him every single time we’re going to do something there in that corner.”
The support from the community and those who knew Ryan has helped the family cope with their loss.
Harsany said, “I’ve had so many instant messages from people he worked with that always tell me, ‘I know you don’t know who I am. But I knew your brother very well. He was a loving man and whatever happened to him was not right.”
Brian’s mission is to continue his brother’s legacy.
“I’ll never be the same you know but I’ll have to live in his name. I have to carry on the honor of his businesses hopefully the footprint that he left in this world I can make half of that,” said Harsany.
A prayer will be held at Inferno restaurant Wednesday night at 7:45 to support the Harsany family.
