Ariel Baker Paniagua Jr., 25, of Canoga Park, was sentenced to 300 years to life in state prison for the murder of a man hit by a stray bullet during a 2015 shooting in a Canoga Park. Paniagua Jr., was convicted on September 26th, 2017, of 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. The jury found true the gang allegation and a special allegation that the defendant used a firearm which resulted in the death of the victim.
A co-defendant, Hubaldo Martinez, 26, of Northridge, also pleaded no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter and was later sentenced to 27 years in state prison, all of this on August 31, 2017. Martinez and Paniagua are members of a gang called the Bryant Street Gang.
Deputy Da Eric Siddall of the Hardcore Gang Division announced that victim Eduardo Rebolledo, 33, was just an innocent bystander caught in the middle of a gang feud. Rebolledo was killed on October 6th, 2015 when Paniagua fired seven shots at three men he perceived as being rival gang members. One of the shots hit the back of one of the men, and another hit the back of Rebolledo’s head, killing him instantly, according to the prosecutor.
And, on October 12th, 2015, in an unrelated incident, Paniagua shot at a car driving on Owensmouth Avenue near Cohasset Street, according to evidence at the trial. This case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, Topanga Station.