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Suspect was arrested for allegedly stalking a 22-year-old woman. He posted bail and months later killed her, cops said.

turlock
Source: Turlock police; MEGA

Mar. 11 2022, Published 9:05 a.m. ET

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A suspect murdered the woman he was allegedly stalking months after being released from jail, police said.

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Around 9 p.m. on March 8, police in Turlock were responding to a shooting and told to be watching for a light-colored sedan allegedly involved in the incident. Officers spotted the vehicle, but the driver fled.

Officers gave chase and the driver crashed into a fence and then ran from the scene, according to Turlock police.

That driver was later identified as Juan Francisco Ibarra-Tapia, police said.

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Officers went to the shooting scene and found 22-year-old Zobeyda Esquerra with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Turlock police. Authorities tried to give her aid, but she later died at the hospital.

A search continued and an officer found Ibarra-Tapia hiding on a nearby block. He was then arrested.

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Investigators said Ibarra-Tapia knew Esquerra and had previously been arrested for stalking her, according to Turlock police. He was charged in October 2021 and posted bail on those charges.

Ibarra-Tapia also shot at two employees during an incident at an O’Reilly Auto Parts, but nobody was hurt in that shooting, Turlock police noted.

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After his arrest in connection to Esquerra’s death, Ibarra-Tapia was charged with homicide, two counts of attempted homicide, two counts of discharging a firearm in the commission of a felony and one count of evading. He is being held without bail.

turlock
Source: Turlock police; MEGA
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