5 Suspected Gang Members Must Stand Trial in Stabbing Death of Oceanside Teen

Five suspected gang members accused in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old boy near Oceanside High School over a dispute about graffiti and vandalism must stand trial on murder and other charges, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Francisco Barajas, 21, Omar Alejandro Garcia, 18, Juan Zarita, 17, Jose Luis Zamora, 18, and Roberto Medina, 18, are charged in the Jan. 29 death of Javier Luna.

Vista Judge Harry Elias found that enough evidence was presented at a daylong preliminary hearing for all of the defendants to proceed to trial. A Superior Court arraignment was set for July 30.

Zarita faces 26 years to life in prison if convicted of murder and the use of a knife. His co-defendants face 25 years to life if convicted.

About 1:45 p.m. last Jan. 29, officers responding to a reported assault found Luna in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 200 block of South Weitzel Street, suffering from wounds to his chest. The teen, who lived nearby, was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later, Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata said.

A dispute between rival gangs over graffiti and vandalism apparently prompted the fatal assault, Capt. Ray Bechler said when the defendants were arrested in February.

The captain told reporters that investigators believed the defendants sought retaliation for graffiti and vandalism that occurred in their Eastside neighborhood, not far from Crown Heights, where Luna lived.

Bechler said that Luna was affiliated with the gang in his neighborhood. However, the victim's relatives said he was not a gang member.

–City News Service