Nick Kauls was a 17-year-old San Joaquin Memorial High School senior from Fresno who was shot on June 24, 2018 while heading to a friend’s house to celebrate the end of the school year. The shooting occurred in the Old Fig Garden area during an attempted robbery by Joseph Espinoza, who also confronted Nick’s friend Patrick Quintana; Nick was shot in the back of the head and died a few days later.

Investigators arrested Espinoza and charged him with murder, attempted murder and multiple robbery-related offenses. A jury convicted Espinoza in November 2021, and on March 10, 2022 he received life without parole plus additional consecutive terms. At sentencing Nick’s mother, Lisa Kauls, and other family members delivered emotional statements about the loss.

Nick’s memory is honored through the Nicholas Kauls San Joaquin Memorial High School Scholarship Fund. If anyone knew Nick, Patrick Quintana, or has information about the events that day, please share what you know.