The trial for the murder of Sebastián Villarreal in the Yofre Norte neighborhood moves forward

The case will be tried by the 3rd Criminal Chamber

Control and Misdemeanors Court No. 5 decided to refer the case for trial regarding the murder of Sebastián Villarreal. The incident occurred on February 29, 2024, in the Yofre Norte neighborhood, city of Córdoba. The legal classification was modified: the defendants will face charges of homicide during a robbery.

The accusation was upheld by Prosecutor Andrés Godoy, who linked five individuals. Four are formally charged: Axel Escada (20), Luciano Busto (19), Héctor Herrera (25), and J. M. M. (17). The fifth individual involved was 14 years old at the time of the incident and was considered not criminally responsible.

The case will be combined with other investigations mainly involving Busto and Escada. Both were already facing charges for aggravated robberies committed in a similar manner: on a motorcycle, at dawn, and with firearms.

How the attack against Sebastián Villarreal occurred

The victim was intercepted in front of his house, at 2300 Montemayor Street. It was around 6:20 a.m. when Sebastián was leaving for work and was approached by two young men on a motorcycle. One of them was carrying a firearm and demanded that he hand over his vehicle.

According to the prosecutor's reconstruction, the victim pleaded, saying "I have children," and tried to escape toward the corner. The assailant shot him twice. One of the bullets struck his chest and caused his immediate death.

After the crime, the assailants fled on two motorcycles: the victim's Honda XR190 and a red and black Falcon 400. The latter was later hidden in a vacant lot in the Ciudad Evita neighborhood, with the help of another of the defendants.

The roles assigned to each of the defendants

Axel Escada was charged with having provided the Falcon motorcycle used in the assault. The vehicle was under his usual control and was used by different members of the gang. At his home, police seized a similar Falcon and phone records with conversations about stolen vehicles.

Luciano Busto was accused of having supplied the .380 caliber bullets used in the attack. Although he denied any connection with the other suspects, the evidence places him as a supplier of ammunition and links him to criminal networks. His testimony was dismissed due to contradictions.

J. M. M., 17 years old, was identified as the person who fired the shots. He is charged with homicide during a robbery aggravated by the use of a firearm. The 14-year-old minor allegedly drove the Falcon during the assault. Meanwhile, Herrera was charged with concealment for having hidden one of the motorcycles.

Evidence and elements incorporated into the case file

The case file includes testimonies from family members and witnesses, along with technical expert reports and audiovisual records. The victim's son witnessed the incident and provided key details. Villarreal's daughter and an eyewitness also testified.

Security cameras made it possible to trace the assailants' escape. In addition, ballistic and autopsy reports were compared with traces found at the scene. The images were key to linking the suspects to the vehicles used in the incident.

Expert analysis of cell phones and social networks was also incorporated into the case. Investigators found conversations and photographs of the defendants posing with similar motorcycles. Searches carried out in Ciudad Evita led to the seizure of ammunition and motorcycle parts.

A gang identified for motorcycle thefts in Ciudad Evita

The investigation revealed the existence of an alleged criminal gang dedicated to motorcycle theft. According to the case file, the group consisted of young people between 17 and 25 years old and operated mainly in Ciudad Evita.

The stolen vehicles were used by gang members or sold illegally. Escada was identified as a frequent user of the Falcon used in the crime. Busto was linked to the supply of weapons and ammunition.

The prosecution highlighted the difficulty of the case due to the initial lack of cameras or witnesses. A passerby provided a key description that allowed the investigation to move forward. The Police Robbery and Theft Brigade carried out the fieldwork that made it possible to identify the suspects and support the charges.