CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There were some heated moments Wednesday between two mothers at the Nueces County Courthouse as one asked for her son's bail to be lowered while the other pleaded for the judge to deny that request.
Ralph Espinoza Jr. is accused of fatally shooting 20-year-old Parris Tipton near Glen Arbor Park back in February. He was on the run until just a few weeks ago when U.S. Marshals and police found him in Ingleside, Texas.
Espinoza's mother appeared in court Wednesday to ask the judge to reduce her son's $500,000 bond. Tipton's mother, however, argued that his bond should be reduced because her family is fearful for their lives.
"I'm scared that something may happen to my daughter," said Lashawn Devones, Tipton's mother. "He may have someone kill her. I'm worried about her now. It's hard for her to go to work now because I keep her with me. I just returned to work."
The judge denied Espinoza's request for a reduced bond.