Burciaga to be charged in Sept.

The arraignment for four alleged gang members accused of shooting a 15-year-old girl in Costa Mesa’s Shalimar neighborhood was rescheduled Friday for late next month.

Salvador Burciaga Jr., 19; Cesar Pedroza, 17; Nestor Lopez, 15; and Oscar Ramos, 14, sat shackled in a Newport Beach Harbor Justice Center courtroom Friday morning when they collectively opted to reschedule their arraignments for Sept. 25.

Burciaga, also known as “Stalker” and “Sal,” is accused of pulling the trigger during a July 28 shooting in the 700 block of Shalimar Drive in Costa Mesa at about 6:30 p.m. Witnesses said a car did a U-turn on Wallace Avenue where it dead ends on Shalimar Drive, and a man, whom police say was Burciaga, jumped out with a shotgun and ran over to a group of teenagers who had just finished playing basketball. The shooter asked a question as he approached the group and fired only once, wounding a 15-year-old girl in the right side before running away, witnesses said.

The girl survived and is now home recovering. Pellets from the shotgun round are still lodged in her heart, she said. She and her friends say they have no gang affiliation. Police do not comment on pending investigations.

Burciaga, the son of Latino activist and former Costa Mesa City Council candidate Mirna Burciaga, faces charges of attempted murder, street terrorism and felony use of a firearm.

Pedroza, also known as “Hectic” and “Grumpy”; Ramos, also known as “Silent”; and Lopez are all accused of playing a role in the crime and face the same charges, specifically as accessories to attempted murder. Pedroza, Lopez and Ramos are being tried as adults. Burciaga, Pedroza and Lopez were arrested Aug. 5. Ramos was arrested days later.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].