Bakersfield, California – A 67-year-old man faces six years in prison after pleading no contest to shooting a man three times his age in California City.
Gordon Tripp pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter on Friday, and his first-degree murder charge was dismissed. His sentencing is scheduled for August 28.
Tripp is accused of shooting Luis Esparza Jr., 21, during a confrontation at a Tamarack Avenue home on December 8, 2023.
According to court documents, Esparza answered the door and exchanged words with someone else in the house who could be heard but not seen, and whose voice one resident recognized as “Gordy’s.”
Witnesses told police that Esparza said something like, “That’s not real,” and threatened to hit the person with something — possibly a shovel found by the door — if he tried to enter.
“I’ll show you it’s not fake,” the other person said. A loud bang was heard.
According to the documents, the other residents rushed to the door and discovered Esparza seated on the floor, bleeding and making gurgling noises. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Tripp was identified as a suspect; witnesses said he and Esparza had had numerous previous encounters. Months later, authorities tracked him down and arrested him.
