Johnny Bermea was a 36-year-old Hispanic man known for his dedication to his work and family. A landscaper by trade, he owned and operated his own business, JB & Boys Landscaping, in Lubbock, Texas. Johnny was a father to three sons and three daughters, and in his free time, he enjoyed cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, listening to music, and cooking for his children. His life, along with that of his 33-year-old brother, Jeremy Bermea, was cut short during a violent confrontation on Easter Sunday.
The incident unfolded on the evening of March 31, 2024, but its roots began earlier in the day with a physical altercation at another location. According to court documents, Andrew Espinosa was assaulted by a man named Dominick Lopez. When Espinosa’s stepfather, Henry Bermea, learned of the assault, he became angry and gathered several family members, including Johnny Bermea Sr., Johnny Bermea Jr., and Jeremy Bermea, to confront Lopez at a home in the 1900 block of 36th Street.
The group traveled in multiple cars, and police reports state that several of them were armed with firearms when they arrived.
A gunfight erupted between the arriving family members and people at the residence. During the exchange of gunfire, both Johnny and Jeremy Bermea were shot. Emergency services transported them to University Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead. A third man at the scene, 48-year-old Jose Lopez, was also shot and transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Investigators with the Lubbock Police Department's Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit quickly identified several individuals involved. On April 3, 2024, authorities arrested 19-year-old Johnny Bermea Jr., 37-year-old Henry Bermea, and 36-year-old Erica Jimenez. Two days later, on April 5, police arrested a fourth person, 21-year-old Andrew Espinosa.
Johnny Bermea Jr. and Andrew Espinosa were charged with aggravated assault. Henry Bermea and Erica Jimenez were each charged with abandoning or endangering a child, as police reports indicated a child had been left strapped in a car seat during the shootout. All four were initially held on bonds of $300,000 each. Later in April 2024, a judge agreed to reduce their bonds after a hearing. The bonds were lowered to $20,000 for Espinosa and Jimenez, $100,000 for Johnny Bermea Jr., and $125,000 for Henry Bermea. Following the reductions, all four defendants were released on bail. As of April 2024, their cases remain pending.
