Senior Mexican Mafia Member Found Dead In California Homeless Encampment; Fallout With Group Believed As Motive For Murder

A seasoned gangster who belonged to the Mexican Mafia was found dead at a California homeless encampment on Sunday. As per reports by the police and law enforcement authorities; Samuel Villalba, 64, was fatally shot multiple times to the upper torso in an encampment near the 91 Freeway in Long Beach.

It is believed that Villalba had a fallout with the members of the group, which could’ve led to this. He allegedly assaulted an aging member of the mafia, which led to him being ousted by the organization. The mafia forbids members from attacking each other, and the incident forced them to cut ties with Villalba.

While the Long Beach Police are delving deeper into the case, a volley of witnesses alleged that they spotted two or more male suspects fleeing the scene after firing multiple gunshots at Villalba.

Villalba, who’s served a prison term in the past, was released in 2017. He was originally from Artesia street gang and was classified as a Mexican Mafia member by prison authorities in 1984. Police said he had been living at the encampment ever since and suspects his death to be gang-related.

Authorities are on the lookout for incisive information into the incident and have requested residents with any clues to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Donald Collier or Leticia Gamboa at the earliest. Authorities have however refused to discussed details at large and have reportedly requested anonymity.

The Mexican Mafia is an organization comprising of 140 all-male members, who are known to control most Latino street gangs in Southern California. The gang is known to protect their gang members in prison in exchange for carrying out rackets and. unlawful sale of drugs.