Clovis, CA – Antonio Saldana Jr. was sentenced to 18 years to life on Thursday for the murder of his estranged wife, Lisa Saldana, 33. This sentencing comes after a plea deal agreed upon in October with prosecutors from the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
On the night of the shooting in September 2021, Antonio Saldana shot Lisa in the backyard of their Clovis home while their five children were inside. His defense challenged the circumstances leading up to the shooting but did not contest culpability.
During the hearing, Saldana appeared visibly affected as he accepted his fate. Judge William Terrence cited the loss experienced by the community and family, stating they lost a mother and friend to gun violence.
Lisa’s daughter spoke at the sentencing, expressing deep pain and animosity toward her father. She described him as a “shell of a man” and shared how the family continues to mourn their mother.
Saldana had initially faced multiple charges related to child endangerment, but those were dismissed. The court considered the presence of the children during the incident when determining the sentence.
In addition to the prison term, Saldana has been barred from any contact with his children for three years. Lisa’s mother urged the court for a harsher sentence, recalling the tragic aftermath of seeing her daughter deceased.
A GoFundMe campaign for Lisa’s children remains active and is accepting donations to support their needs.
