Gordon Tripp Arrested; – A 67-year-old man from California City has received a sentence related to a fatal shooting that took place in 2023.
Gordon Tripp was sentenced to six years in prison last week after entering a no contest plea to voluntary manslaughter concerning the death of 21-year-old Luis Esparza Jr., as per court records.
A first-degree murder charge was dropped when Tripp submitted his no contest plea on August 1.
The incident occurred during a confrontation on December 8, 2023, at the entrance of a residence located on Tamarack Avenue.
Esparza opened the door and engaged in a verbal exchange with an individual whom others in the house could hear but not see — a voice that one resident recognized as belonging to “Gordy,” according to court documents.
Esparza reportedly stated something along the lines of, “That’s not real,” and then threatened to strike the individual with an object — potentially a shovel that was located by the door — if they attempted to enter, as recounted by witnesses to the police.
“I’ll demonstrate that it’s not fake,” the other individual responded. Following this, a loud bang was heard.
Others present in the home hurried to the door and discovered Esparza lying on the floor, bleeding and making gurgling sounds, according to the documents. He was transported to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Tripp was identified as a suspect — witnesses indicated that he and Esparza had a history of multiple altercations. He was apprehended months later.
