Crime & Safety
Encinitas Man Sentenced for Fatal Shooting of Fellow Gang Member
Juan Carlos Balderas was accidentally shot by Javier Antonio Lopez during the attempted murder of a Carlsbad rival.
An Encinitas gang member who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a fellow member during a fight with rivals at a Carlsbad park was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in state prison.
Victor Virjilio Lopez, 23, testified at an that members of his gang went to Carlsbad on April 4, 2009, to shoot a rival from a Carlsbad gang. Their goal was payback for the non-fatal shooting of a younger family member by a Carlsbad gangster several weeks earlier.
Juan Carlos Balderas, 21, was accidentally shot and killed by Javier Antonio Lopez during the attempted murder of a rival, Deputy District Attorney Geoff Allard said.
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Javier Lopez, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and a firearm allegation, was sentenced to 31 years in prison. Another gang member, Jose Angel Barraza, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 24 years behind bars.
Victor Lopez, Javier's cousin, was sentenced Wednesday by Vista Judge K. Michael Kirkman.
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City News Service contributed to this report.
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