GREELEY, Colo. — What should have been a peaceful Sunday morning turned tragic for Greeley father Joaquin Mininger.
Mininger's 24-year-old daughter, Sierra Nicole Mininger, was shot and killed in her home around 6 a.m. Sunday.
The Greeley Police Department arrested Minger's ex-boyfriend, 23-year-old Gabriel Esparza, in connection with the deadly shooting. The two had only recently broken up, according to police.
According to court documents, Esparza told conflicting stories to detectives.
The affidavit states Esparza first told investigators that he was woken up by a "loud pop" and found Mininger had been shot. He then allegedly told officers that he liked to play Russian Roulette and "gets high off not knowing whether a bullet is in the chamber." He reportedly told officers he pointed the gun at Mininger and pulled the trigger, not knowing that a bullet was loaded.
Esparza was booked into the Weld County jail for first-degree murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and domestic violence. Court records show his bond was set at $5 million.
Esparza has two previous arrests in Weld County/ He pleaded guilty in 2021 to illegal discharge of a firearm.
Greeley
Greeley woman killed in shooting Sunday morning; man arrested
Mininger's father, Joaquin, had lived with her for the past two years. He was home at the time of the shooting and was awoken by Esparza.
Joaquin ran upstairs and found his daughter bleeding on her bed.
"I needed to hold her wound until the paramedics got there," said Joaquin. "I reassured her that I loved her and that I'm here for her, and if she could hang on, to please hang on. It’s the worst thing anybody could go through.”
Mininger, a JROTC Marine Corp. graduate, left behind her father and two siblings. She also had three dogs, a cat and two birds, which Joaquin plans to take care of.
"She really wanted a family," said Joaquin. "That's why she had so many pets. That was her starter kit for a family.”
Joaquin said Mininger was protective of her family and had even helped one of her friends escape an abusive relationship recently. The father hopes that by speaking out it will help raise awareness for domestic violence in Colorado.
After investigators finished gathering evidence, Mininger's family cleaned up her room. Joaquin said he now sleeps in her old bedroom to feel closer to his daughter.
"Some people say it's crazy, but she was my blood. She was sunshine. She'd walk in the room and it brightened up. Everybody could feel her love and compassion," recalled the heartbroken father.
Mininger's funeral ceremony is scheduled for next week.
If you'd like to help out the family with funeral expenses, you can donate to this GoFundMe fundraiser. As of Thursday morning, more than $8,000 had been donated.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available through Violence Free Colorado or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
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