Midtown murder suspect had victim’s card on him when arrested

A preliminary complaint obtained by KGUN 9 provides more information about what led to the alleged murder of a man off North Oracle Road over the weekend.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a shooting near 1501 N. Oracle Road. They found a 43-year-old man with a gunshot wound in the desert area just east of Francisco Elias Esquer Park. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.

After interviews, detectives believe the victim was involved in a verbal altercation with a group of people, which escalated.

Two witnesses told police they were in the area 15 to 20 minutes before the shooting, when they were approached by two men and a woman, the suspects, according to the preliminary complaint.

A witness recognized one of the men as someone who had robbed him a few weeks earlier, according to the complaint. He described the man as having an “L” tattooed on his neck and provided officers with the subject’s Facebook page. Officers identified the subject as Johnny Esparza, 29, the complaint states.

The three suspects approached one of the witnesses and he started running. The suspects began shooting at the witness, according to the complaint. The witness fell to the ground as the subjects approached him. They demanded his backpack and baseball cap, the complaint states.

The suspects then entered the park, the complaint states. Witnesses heard gunshots 15 to 20 minutes later, according to the complaint.

Two other witnesses saw the suspects enter the park and ask if anyone wanted to buy blues or Percocets. Nobody accepted the offer. One of the suspects then got into a verbal fight with the victim.

The argument escalated and the suspects verbally laid claim to the Barrio Hollywood and the Westside Barrio, according to the complaint.

One of the suspects shot the victim three or four times, according to the complaint. A second suspect then shot the victim two or three times, according to the complaint.

The first shooter then began checking the victim’s pockets, according to the complaint. The first suspect then pointed his gun at the witnesses and repeatedly told them, “You didn’t see anything.”

The suspects left the scene.

Later that night, Esparza was recognized in the Congress and Toole area downtown.

Esparza attempted to flee and resist arrest, but was caught shortly after.

A .9mm pistol was found in Esparza’s possession, the complaint states.

The gunshot victim’s credit card was found on Esparza during his search, as was a plastic bag containing counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl and a black sticky substance, later identified as heroin. The bag also contained burned pipes, burned aluminum foil, straws and a scale with residue, the complaint states.

The shooting victim’s credit card was also found on Esparza during his search.

Esparza denied being present at the park where the shooting took place.

Esparza was arrested on suspicion of misconduct involving weapons. Records indicate he was a prohibited possessor.