The man accused of killing a father in front of his daughter this past weekend had been addicted to methamphetamine, according to police.
Salvador Ramirez was killed early Sunday at his trailer, where he was living with his wife Danielle Ramirez and their children. About three weeks ago, they had invited suspect Mario Espinoza and his girlfriend to stay with them until they could find an apartment. Espinoza had been released from prison in California two months before.
In the arrest report for Espinoza, he had struggled with addiction to meth for years and became paranoid when he used the drug. He had also bought a revolver handgun for protection, even though he was prohibited as a convicted felon.
Between 1 and 2 a.m. Sunday, police said Espinoza did some meth with an associate at the trailer. He then became "extremely paranoid and believed someone was going to kill him" and then armed himself with the gun, according to the arrest report.
Police said that everyone was trying to calm Espinoza down but eventually he shot Ramirez and his wife Danielle. He kept trying to shoot, however, the gun was empty so he grabbed a knife from the kitchen.
According to the arrest report, a struggle ensued between Danielle and Espinoza, where he attempted to stab her. He eventually dropped the knife and then ran outside and armed himself with a shovel.
However, police said once Espinoza saw people outside, he fled with the shovel and gave up when confronted by police. According to the arrest report, Espinoza stated he was guilty and "was prepared to return to prison."
According to police records, Espinoza is a three-time registered felon -- domestic violence battery in Nevada in 2010, attempted home invasion in Nevada in 2006 and evading a police officer in California in 2003.
For Saturday's shooting and stabbing, Espinoza was arrested for murder with a deadly weapon, attempted murder and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
A vigil was held Tuesday evening for Salvador Ramirez.
