In the small community of Hallock, Minnesota, the life of 43-year-old Justin Esparza came to a tragic and unexpected end on March 13, 2025. Esparza, a man who had moved to the rural area to build a connection with his father and half-brother, was found deceased in his home in the 200 block of 2nd Street NW. He had been fatally shot.
The events leading to the discovery of Esparza’s body began to unfold when the Kittson County Sheriff's Office received a distressing call around 1:30 p.m.
that day. The call was from the mother of 23-year-old Jordan Hanson, who reported that her daughter had confessed to shooting a man in the head. Hanson, who had recently been at a drug treatment center, was also in possession of Esparza's vehicle and his dog.
When law enforcement officials arrived at Esparza's residence, they found him in the living room, partially on the couch and the floor, with a significant amount of blood around his head. A Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun was discovered on the couch near his body, with a single casing on the floor. Justin Esparza was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jordan Hanson, a resident of Kennedy, Minnesota, was arrested shortly after the shooting. At the time of her arrest, her family informed deputies that she was "completely delusional from using drugs." Her behavior was described as erratic and nonsensical. Hanson has since been charged with second-degree and third-degree murder in connection with Justin Esparza's death.
According to court documents, a witness who was present at the house told investigators that he had been smoking meth with both Esparza and Hanson when he saw Hanson shoot Esparza. Family members of Esparza described him as having a "big heart" and being a deep thinker. He had found joy in his work in Hallock, laboring in potato fields and as a beekeeper, a job he was passionate about. His family has been left to mourn the loss of a man who was seeking to strengthen his familial bonds.
