Man Convicted of Sonoma County Execution-Style Murder Denied Parole

Parole was denied last week to a man convicted in the 1995 execution style murder and attempted murder at a Santa Rosa motel, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office.

The parole board found on Oct. 7 that 42-year-old Javier Zubiate presented an unreasonable risk of danger if released, prosecutors said Friday. “He is still a danger to society if released back into the community. His Nuestra Familia gang affiliation, poor institutional behavior and lack of rehabilitative programming support the conclusion he should remain incarcerated,” District Attorney Jill Ravitch said in a statement.

On Feb. 10, 1995, Zubiate, along with an accomplice, went to a motel room, armed with a semiautomatic handgun.

Zubiate intended to kill two men inside the room, Joseph Littlewolf Basurto and Eugene Winterhawk Lincoln, whom he believed had robbed a family member of drugs and guns, prosecutors said. Zubiate also believed the Nuestra Familia gang wanted Basurto dead, and that killing him would help him to advance within the gang.

Once inside the motel, Zubiate and his accomplice entered the room and confronted the victims. Zubiate took all of the victims’ money, which was about $2,500, according to prosecutors. After the robbery, Zubiate and his accomplice went outside and the victims followed them. Once outside, Zubiate produced a firearm and shot Basurto in the head, killing him immediately. Zubiate then shot Lincoln in his neck and leg.

Officers who happened to be in area heard the shots and responded to the motel.

Lincoln was able to tell officers what happened and Zubiate and his accomplice were located and arrested a short time later.

--Bay City News