Suspect Arrested for Homicide Following a Shooting, Police Pursuit and Local Area Search

“On March 8, 2022, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Turlock Police Dispatch received calls of a shooting in the area of Geer Road and Wayside Drive.  Officers responded to the scene and located a light colored sedan, which was reportedly involved in the shooting, fleeing the area.  The suspect fled as a Turlock officer patrolling in the area attempted a vehicle stop.  Officers pursued the vehicle to the 1300 block of North Quincy Road, where the vehicle crashed into a fence.  The driver, later identified as 22-year-old Livingston resident, Juan Francisco Ibarra-Tapia, fled on foot which sparked a local area search.

Officers responding to the shooting scene located a 22-year-old female, from Livingston, with multiple gunshot wounds.  Lifesaving measures were administered on scene and the woman was transported to a local area hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Turlock Police Dispatch sent an emergency notification to residents living in the area to shelter in place, lock doors, and report suspicious activity.  Officers completed a yard to yard search and had began breaking down the perimeter, when an alert resident called 9-1-1 and reported seeing the suspect in the area.  Officers found Ibarra-Tapia hiding in the 1300 block of Estates Drive where he was taken into custody without incident.

Chief Jason Hedden said, “This is another example of the community and police department working together to provide for a safer Turlock.”

As a result of this incident, two separate crime scenes were established.  Detectives responded to each of these scenes and worked through the night processing the evidence from the vehicle and shooting scene.

The investigation revealed Ibarra-Tapia knew the victim and had been previously arrested for stalking the victim in October of 2021, in Merced County.  Ibarra-Tapia bailed out on those charges, however, the status of those charges is unknown at this time.  The investigation further revealed that Ibarra-Tapia also shot at two employees who were inside O’Reilly Auto Parts, located at 1144 Geer Road.  Those employees did not sustain any injuries.  Detectives were able to confirm that this incident was not a random act of violence.

Ibarra-Tapia was booked into the Stanislaus County jail on multiple felonies, including one count of homicide, two counts of attempt homicide, two counts of discharging a firearm in the commission of a felony, and one count of evading.  Ibarra-Tapia remains in custody at the Stanislas County Jail without bail.

The victim has been identified as 22-year-old Zobeyda Esquerra.  The suspected firearm used in this shooting has been recovered.

Detective Gina Giovacchini said, “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family, and we hope the arrest of the suspect brings some sense of closure as they mourn the loss of Zoe.”