Preacher Charged With Murder in ’93 Shooting
A former Santa Ana gang member turned small-town Alabama preacher was charged with murder Thursday in connection with the 1993 drive-by shooting of a rival gang member.
Geronimo Galvan Burgos, 29, appearing in court for the first time since his arrest in Alabama last week, did not enter a plea during a brief hearing in which bail was set at $250,000.
Police allege that Burgos was in a car from which numerous shots were fired at rival gang members. A 29-year-old man was killed and two others were wounded. No other suspects have been arrested.
Santa Ana Police Sgt. Raul Luna said investigators focused on Burgos as a suspect after uncovering new evidence in the case. Burgos, he said, was not the only person in the car, and investigators hope he provides information on other suspects.
After leaving Santa Ana, Burgos became a minister at a Latino church in Russellville, Ala., where he preached on television and counseled inmates at the county jail.
He is scheduled to be arraigned March 9.
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