BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A 21-year-old man on Wednesday pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a Wasco teen.

Juan Romero will receive 15 years to life under the plea agreement, prosecutors said.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 9.

Romero was arrested in the Jan. 19, 2023, shooting that killed Adrian Esparza, 16. Esparza was shot in the head in the area of Cedar Avenue and 6th Place. He died two days later at Kern Medical.

According to court documents, surveillance video captured a white Chevy Malibu pull up to Esparza. Three shots came from the car.

The investigation revealed the Chevy belonged to Romero’s father. Search warrants resulted in detectives obtaining messages in which Romero threatened to shoot Esparza, documents said

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