Aliciabelen Villa, a 17-year-old resident of Oakley, California, tragically lost her life on November 5, 2019, in a shooting incident in Antioch. The incident occurred around 7:10 p.m. near the intersection of Morro Drive and La Jolla Drive. Aliciabelen, affectionately known as A.B., was with her 17-year-old boyfriend at the time. The couple was reportedly involved in a minor drug transaction when the situation escalated into violence.
During the transaction, an argument ensued between Aliciabelen's boyfriend and one of the two 16-year-old boys they were meeting. As the argument intensified, one of the boys pulled out a gun. Aliciabelen's boyfriend attempted to drive away, but the second boy opened fire, striking Aliciabelen in the head and her boyfriend in the shoulder. Despite his injuries, her boyfriend managed to drive them to Kaiser Antioch Medical Center, where Aliciabelen was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The investigation into Aliciabelen's death led to the arrest of two 16-year-old boys. The first suspect was taken into custody shortly after the incident, and a second suspect was arrested a week later. Both suspects were charged with murder. The primary suspect, identified as Jose Campos, was believed to be the shooter. Campos was arrested after a search of his residence revealed 15 guns, although none were linked to the shooting. The second suspect, Julian Martinez, was accused of playing an active role in the crime by pulling out a pistol during the argument. Both suspects were students at local high schools, and their involvement in the crime shocked the community.
The case against the two suspects proceeded through the juvenile court system. Jose Campos eventually pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. The court proceedings revealed that the shooting was the result of a botched robbery attempt during the drug transaction. The tragic loss of Aliciabelen Villa was compounded by the fact that her mother had passed away from cancer just weeks before the shooting. The Villa family, already grieving the loss of their matriarch, was left to cope with the devastating murder of their beloved daughter and sister. The community rallied around the family, offering support and raising funds to help cover funeral expenses through a GoFundMe campaign.
