FRESNO – Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced this morning that detectives have made an arrest for the June 24th shooting in the Old Fig Garden Neighborhood that resulted in the death of 17 year old Nicholas Kauls.
The suspect is Joseph Antonio Espinoza (22) of Fresno. Espinoza was in court Friday morning for a hearing on other charges when new charges of murder, attempted murder and attempted robbery were placed on his record. He is currently in custody in the Fresno County Jail with a bail amount of $4.3 million.
On Sunday, June 24th around 11:45 pm, dispatchers at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 phone call stating gunshots had been fired outside a home on the 4700 block of North Sunset Drive, near Van Ness and Rialto in Fresno’s Old Fig Garden neighborhood.
Deputies arrived and found a 17 year old boy, later identified as Nicholas Kauls, suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics arrived and transported Nicholas to Community Regional Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.
As homicide detectives began working the case, they learned that the shooter arrived in a light colored mid-size SUV. A man got out of the SUV, approached Nicholas and his friend as they were in the driveway and demanded they hand over all of their belongings. The boys refused and ran away. The robbery suspect then fired shots at them, striking Nicholas.
While at the scene, sheriff’s detectives became aware that Fresno Police detectives were investigating other attempted robberies and shootings, which occurred around the same time frame in the city of Fresno. One in the area of Ashlan and West and the other near First and Gettysburg. Detectives began working together to see if all three calls may be related.
Sheriff and police detectives contacted businesses and homeowners with surveillance cameras. Members of the public also contacted us to offer video recordings they had. Detectives reviewed videos of different streets and were able to identify a newer model Toyota Highlander as the vehicle possibly connected to the robbery attempts and shootings.
On June 26th, detectives with Fresno H.E.A.T., the Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force, found a 2018 Toyota Highlander that had recently been reported stolen. As they approached the driver of the vehicle at a fast food restaurant near Shaw and Cedar, the driver used the SUV to ram a detective’s vehicle, as well as a citizen’s vehicle.
The suspect, later identified as Joseph Espinoza, ran from the vehicle and tried to hide in a dumpster at a nearby apartment complex. A Fresno Police K-9 found and bit Espinoza, allowing officers to take him into custody. Espinoza was booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of vehicle theft and assault with a deadly weapon.
On June 28th, sheriff’s detectives and members of its S.W.A.T. team served a search warrant at a home on the 3500 block of E. Santa Ana Ave. in Fresno. This is a home where Espinoza was known to stay. Detectives and members of our Crime Scene Unit collected evidence from the house.
Following several witness interviews and the analysis of evidence, homicide detectives determined Espinoza was responsible for the shooting death of Nicholas Kauls. Even though the shooter is in custody, detectives know other people were directly involved with Espinoza the night of the homicide and robbery attempts. The sheriff’s department need the public’s help to identify them so they can face the charges they deserve.
If convicted of the charges, Espinoza faces a sentence of either Death or Life in Prison. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is currently conducting a necessary investigation, and will make a determination and announcement regarding the death penalty at a later date.
Espinoza remains in custody at the Fresno County Jail. He is next scheduled to be in Department 33 of the Fresno County Superior Court for an Arraignment on the Amended Complaint on Monday, July 16, 2018, at 8:30 a.m.
A Valley Crime Stoppers cash reward of $18,000 still exists. In order to be eligible for the reward, you must submit your tip to Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or online at valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and your tip must lead to an arrest to collect the cash. Tips directly to law enforcement do not qualify you for the reward.
Today in Fresno County Superior Court, an Amended Felony Complaint was filed against Espinoza adding additional charges for the crimes committed on June 24th.
The Amended Felony Complaint alleges that the defendant committed the crimes of:
1.) Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm with the Personal Use of a Firearm on June 24th [P.C. § 245(b) & 12022.5(a)];
2.) Attempted Second Degree Robbery with the Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm on June 24th [P.C. § 664/211 & 12022.53(c)];
3.) Petty Theft on June 24th [P.C. § 484(a)];
4.) Murder with the Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm Causing Death on June 24th [P.C. § 187(a) & 12022.53(d)];
5.) Attempted Murder with the Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm on June 24th [P.C. § 664/187(a) & 12022.53(c)];
6.) Attempted Second Degree Robbery with the Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm Causing Death on June 24th [P.C. § 664/211 & 12022.53(d)];
7.) Attempted Second Degree Robbery with the Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm on June 24th [P.C. § 664/211 & 12022.53(c)];
8.) Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm with the Personal Use of a Firearm on June 24th [P.C. § 245(b) & 12022.5(a)];
9.) Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm with the Personal Use of a Firearm on June 24th [P.C. § 245(b) & 12022.5(a)];
10.) Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Vehicle) with the Personal Infliction of Great Bodily Injury on June 26th [P.C. § 245(a)(1) & 12022.7(a)];
11.) Unlawful Driving or Taking of a Vehicle on June 26th [V.C. § 10851(a)];
12.) Receiving Stolen Property Exceeding $950 on June 26th [P.C. § 496(a)];
13.) Carrying a Concealed Firearm in a Vehicle on June 26th [P.C. § 25400(a)(1)];
14.) Carrying a Concealed Firearm on a Person on June 26th [P.C. § 25400(a)(2)];
15.) Leaving the Scene of an Accident on June 26th [V.C. § 20001(a)];
16.) Assault upon a Peace Officer on June 26th [P.C. § 245(c)];
17.) Resisting, Obstructing, or Delaying a Peace Officer on June 26th [P.C. § 148(a)(1)].
