Easter Sunday shooting suspects released from jail after judge reduces bonds

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - UPDATE: All four people jailed in connection with the deadly Easter Sunday shooting were bailed out on Wednesday.

UPDATE: On Tuesday, Judge Douglas Freitag made a ruling on the suspect’s bond amount after hearing testimony and reviewing evidence.

Andrew Espinosa and Erica Jimenez’s bond was lowered to $20,000 from $300,000.

Johhny Bermea Jr.’s bond was lowered to $100,000 from $300,000.

Henry Bermea’s bond was lowered to $125,000 from $300,000.

PREVIOUS STORY: On Monday morning, the defense attorney representing all four defendants involved in the deadly Easter Sunday shooting requested their bonds to be reduced.

He argued the shooting was an act of self-defense and is urging Judge Douglas Freitag to lower their bond so they can pay their respects to their family members who died during the shootout.

On Easter Sunday, Lubbock police rushed to a home near 36th Street and Avenue U for reports of a shooting. That’s where they found Johnny and Jeremy Bermea dead and Jose Lopez wounded. Police say the incident started long before then.

After officers talked to those involved, detectives say Andrew Espinosa was assaulted by Dominick Lopez. Upon hearing of the assault, Espinosa’s father, Henry Bermea, recruited other family members to go confront Lopez at his home. This is where the shooting took place.

Reports do not say who fired the first shot, but according to police, Andrew Espinosa, Johnny Bermea Jr., Henry Bermea, Jeremy Bermea, and Johnny Bermea Sr. all had guns when they arrived.

Both Espinosa and Johnny Bermea Jr. are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for their role in the shooting.

Erica Jimenez and Henry Bermea are charged with abandoning or endangering a child. Police reports stated a child was left strapped into a car seat during the shooting.

On Monday, the defense attorney who is representing each defendant requested a judge to reduce their bonds to between $10,000 and $20,000 each. He argues that if Lopez had not allegedly started the original fight, his clients would not have retaliated.

The defense went on to ask Judge Freitag to sympathize with those charged, arguing that if their bond was lowered, they could post bail to attend the funerals of Jeremy Bermea and Johnny Bermea Sr.