Fourth shooting suspect arrested

Costa Mesa police have arrested a fourth person they say is linked to a shooting last week that left a 15-year-old girl wounded and has led to two juveniles being charged as adults for attempted murder, officials said Thursday.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting. Salvador Burciaga, Jr., 19, Nestor Lopez, 15, and Cesar Pedroza, 17, were arrested Tuesday by Costa Mesa gang detectives who pulled over two vehicles they believed were involved in a July 28 shooting in the city’s Shalimar neighborhood.

Burciaga Jr., son of former City Council candidate and community activist Mirna Burciaga, is accused of pulling the trigger last week when witnesses say a car pulled into the Shalimar neighborhood and a man jumped out and fired one shotgun round at a group of teenagers, wounding a girl.

Witnesses said the man asked “Where you from?” before shooting the girl, who was running away with the others.

Burciaga’s family maintained his innocence.

“It wasn’t him. They say he did it, but they still have to prove it,” Burciaga’s father, Sal, said Thursday.

According to court records, Burciaga, Pedroza and Lopez are charged with attempted murder with an enhancement for their alleged involvement with the Varrio Little Town street gang.

Burciaga also goes by the name “Stalker,” and Pedroza also goes by “Hectic” and “Grumpy,” court records show.

The men’s arraignment, originally scheduled for Thursday, was continued to Aug. 29.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.