Ricardo Richie Espinoza Jr., a Caldwell gang member, admitted in court this week he was involved in two Canyon County shootings
Ricardo Richie Espinoza Jr., a Caldwell gang member, admitted in court this week he was involved in two Canyon County shootings on the same day in 2007.The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to two amended charges of aggravated battery. He was originally charged with attempted murder in connection with two violent attacks in Wilder and Caldwell that left two people injured.An 18-year-old documented gang member was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5 for his role in the firebombing of the Wilder home.Fabian Hernandez Olmeda was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a first-degree arson charge. He will be eligible for parole in three years.Olmeda, of Caldwell, was 16 at the time. Olmeda admitted to officials that the attack was gang-related. He was charged as an adult and eventually pleaded guilty to the charge of first-degree arson. Espinoza told the court he was targeting a youth he mistook for a rival gang member who had fought with a female member of Espinoza's gang. As the victim — who was not a rival gang member — paid for food at the drive-through window of the North 10th Avenue restaurant at 11:20 p.m., Espinoza said he walked up to the victim's car and began shooting through the driver's side window. The teenage victim was treated at a Boise hospital for shots to his arm, elbow, shoulder and rib cage. The shooting was unprovoked and motivated by revenge, Espinoza told the judge.