Joe Salazar Estrada, aged 78, passed away on February 10, 2022, in Bakersfield, California. Estrada, a beloved father, grandfather, and friend, was known for his kind-hearted nature and his passion for fishing and cars. He worked in the engineering department at Memorial Hospital for over 40 years before retiring in 2013. On the night of his death, police were called to his home in central Bakersfield, where they found Estrada and his brother with gunshot wounds.
Estrada died at the scene, while his brother survived.
The investigation revealed that Dan Ryan, a 25-year-old man who was raised by Estrada as his grandson, was responsible for the shooting. Ryan was found sitting on the front step of the house and spontaneously confessed to the officers, claiming he had to shoot them because they were going to kill him. During subsequent interviews, Ryan made several bizarre statements, including hearing voices and believing one of the victims had killed his grandmother. He also mentioned being a sharpshooter due to playing the video game "Warzone."
Ryan was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty and was held without bail. The case proceeded through the legal system, and in 2024, Ryan was sentenced to 28 years and four months in prison after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder. The court heard emotional testimonies from Estrada's family, who described the fear Estrada lived in due to Ryan's behavior and the devastating impact his death had on the family. Estrada's son, Joey Estrada, recounted how his father's death led to further tragedy, as his own son struggled to cope and eventually passed away due to self-medicating.
The tragic death of Joe Salazar Estrada and the subsequent legal proceedings highlight the profound impact of violence within families and the long-lasting repercussions it can have on loved ones.
