Photo: Eduardo Rebolledo
LOS ANGELES –The Los Angeles District Attorney declared yesterday evening, “A Bryant Street gang member was sentenced today to 300 years to life in state prison for the murder of a man hit by a stray bullet during a 2015 shooting in Canoga Park.”
The conviction of Ariel Baker Paniagua Jr. (25) of Canoga Park included second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, two counts of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall of the Hardcore Gang Division reported, “Victim Eduardo Rebolledo, 33, was an innocent bystander caught in the middle of a gang feud. On Oct. 6, 2015, Paniagua fired seven shots at three men who he perceived as being rival gang members. One of those shots hit the back of one of the men and another struck the back of Rebolledo’s head, killing him instantly.”
The Los Angeles Police Department, Topanga Station, investigated the case.
The jury found true a gang allegation as well as a special allegation that the defendant had used a firearm that resulted in the death of the victim.
Evidence presented at trial included an unrelated incident on Oct. 12, 2015, one week after the first shooting, when Paniagua shot at a car driving on Owensmouth Avenue near Cohasset Street.
A co-defendant, Hubaldo Martínez (26) of Northridge, pleaded no contest on Aug. 31, 2017 to one count of voluntary manslaughter and was later sentenced to 27 years in state prison.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators, and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims’ rights.
