Joshua Samarripas, a 36-year-old resident of Bakersfield, California, tragically lost his life on December 30, 2022. The incident occurred on Pesante Road near Mesa Drive in east Bakersfield. According to reports, Samarripas was shot multiple times and was found by deputies around 8:30 p.m. He was immediately transported to Kern Medical, where he was pronounced dead at 11:54 p.m., just over three hours after the shooting.
The investigation into Samarripas' death revealed that he had been
followed by a pickup truck as he walked on Center Street. Surveillance footage captured the vehicle stopping, and the driver, identified as Richard Cortez, exiting the truck and firing two shots at Samarripas. The victim managed to run to the 900 block of Pesante Road, where he collapsed against a vehicle. The pickup truck was later found abandoned, with a plastic cup inside bearing Cortez's fingerprints.
Richard Cortez, 31 at the time of the incident, was arrested on February 27, 2023, on suspicion of murder and other offenses related to the shooting. Cortez was subsequently charged and convicted of second-degree murder. During the trial, defense attorney Tony Lidgett argued that Cortez had obtained the gun out of fear for his life, citing alleged death threats made by Samarripas. However, the prosecution, led by Larry Fields, contended that Cortez had a long history of criminal behavior and was not in immediate danger when he shot Samarripas. The court ultimately sentenced Cortez to life in prison, with a total term of 30 years to life, plus additional years for prior offenses and the use of a firearm.
The case highlighted the troubled pasts of both individuals involved. Samarripas had prior arrests for violent offenses, including stabbing his brother and assaulting an uncle. Despite attempts to turn their lives around, the fatal encounter on December 30, 2022, marked a tragic end for Samarripas and a significant legal consequence for Cortez. The community of Bakersfield was left grappling with the aftermath of the violence, as law enforcement officials continued to urge anyone with further information about the incident to come forward.
