Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Son of activist arrested in shotgun attack
Child of Mirna Burciaga, Costa Mesa council candidate in 2006, is detained along with 2 others on suspicion of attempted murder.
By JEFF OVERLEY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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COSTA MESA – Three teens, including the son of a former City Council candidate and community activist, have been arrested in connection with a shotgun attack on a teenage girl, police said today.

The arrests stem from a July 28 shooting on Shalimar Drive – a notorious area barricaded with concrete stumps at all but one access point because of rampant gang activity – that resulted in a 15-year-old girl being hospitalized with a shotgun wound to the torso.

The three suspects - one young man and two juveniles - were booked on suspicion of attempted murder, conspiracy and street terrorism.

The oldest of the three, 19-year-old Salvador Hilario Burciaga, is the son of Mirna Burciaga, who made an unsuccessful bid for City Council in 2006 and owns El Chinaco restaurant in the city's Westside neighborhood.

Burciaga, who famously served "Minuteman tacos" at her West 19th Street eatery to protest crackdowns on illegal immigrants, declined to comment when reached by phone today.

The victim, who remains hospitalized in stable condition, was standing with a group of youths shortly after 6 p.m. July 28 when the gunman, who concealed his face with a bandana, approached and fired, said Costa Mesa police Lt. Clay Epperson.

"It had all the characteristics of a gang assault," Epperson said.

Police could not say which of the suspects fired the weapon or provide other specifics on the incident.

On Tuesday afternoon about 3 p.m., police pulled over two vehicles and arrested Salvador Burciaga as well as two juveniles, one 17 and the other 15, who are not being identified because of their ages.

Salvador Burciaga was also arrested in May on suspicion of felony vandalism and street terrorism, charges to which he has pleaded not guilty, court records show.

Contact the writer: 714-445-6683 or joverley@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/burc ... dor-street