Accused killer pleads innocent

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- A purported gang member suspected of blindly firing into

a West Side garage and killing a 15-year-old girl and her unborn child

pleaded innocent Friday to murder charges.

Eduardo Yepez Guerrero, 18, finally entered a plea at his arraignment at

the Harbor Justice Center after months of delays. Guerrero will return to

court in January followed by a preliminary hearing on Feb. 18.

Authorities were stymied for two months trying to find the killer of

Yuridia Balbuena, who died when a single bullet tore through her body.

Her unborn baby later died after doctors attempted to perform a Caesarean

section.

Police handed out fliers offering a $25,000 reward in and around the

Costa Mesa neighborhood where Balbuena and her family lived. Soon after,

anonymous tips came pouring into the department. The information provided

to authorities led them to Guerrero, who was arrested in July.

Police say Guerrero, a purported gang member, shot into the garage, which

had been converted into an apartment, because he saw graffiti belonging

to a rival gang in the same neighborhood.

In addition to the graffiti, someone had accidentally crashed into

Guerrero’s cousin’s car, which was parked near where the shooting

occurred.

Police believe both incidents sparked Guerrero to slip out of a May 29

wedding reception and fire a .357 handgun toward the apartment.