Second Defendant In Saticoy Park Gang Related Murder Sentenced

Friday May 31, 2024

     Updated--The second defendant in a gang-related murder in Saticoy Park 12 years ago has been sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison.

     Gilbert Villanueva of Ventura had earlier pleaded guilty to the murder of 14-year-old Joshua Burciaga of Ventura on the night of June 27, 2012.

      Burciaga and his friends had gone to Saticoy Park looking for revenge for an injured fellow gang member.

     Villanueva and co-defendant Justin Patino, both 17 at the time and both also gang members, also went to the park, covered their faces with bandanas, pulled out guns, and immediately started shooting Burciaga as he tried to flee.

     They kept shooting Burciaga until he fell to the ground and then they stood over him and continued firing as Burciaga begged for his life.

     The autopsy showed Burciaga died from multiple gunshot wounds including two wounds to his head at close range.

     Meanwhile, after the killing Villanueva and Patino fled and buried the guns and the bandanas at a ranch in Santa Paula where they were later found.

     Because the two killers were 17 at the time, their case went to juvenile court but prosecutors successfully had them transferred to adult court.

     Patino was convicted by a jury in 2018 and sentenced to 50-years-to-life.