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| Trump administration to seek death penalty against Virginia MS-13 member | Trump administration to seek death penalty against Virginia MS-13 member |
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| The Justice Department plans to pursue the death penalty for a member of the MS-13 gang accused in the kidnappings and killings of two Virginia teenagers in 2016, a move that comes as the Trump administration fights to restart federal executions. | The Justice Department plans to pursue the death penalty for a member of the MS-13 gang accused in the kidnappings and killings of two Virginia teenagers in 2016, a move that comes as the Trump administration fights to restart federal executions. |
| Elmer Martinez, 27, is alleged to be the leader of the Fairfax County clique that authorities say killed a 17-year-old suspected to belong to a rival gang and a 14-year-old who revealed that crime to the first victim’s family. | Elmer Martinez, 27, is alleged to be the leader of the Fairfax County clique that authorities say killed a 17-year-old suspected to belong to a rival gang and a 14-year-old who revealed that crime to the first victim’s family. |
| In a court filing Monday, prosecutors said Martinez was singled out for death among over a dozen people charged in connection to the crimes because of his “substantial planning and premeditation” and “his lack of remorse for his violent acts.” | In a court filing Monday, prosecutors said Martinez was singled out for death among over a dozen people charged in connection to the crimes because of his “substantial planning and premeditation” and “his lack of remorse for his violent acts.” |
| The Trump administration announced plans in July to resume executing federal prisoners, after a 16-year moratorium. A judge blocked the executions in November, determining that the Justice Department’s proposed lethal injection procedure “is not authorized” by federal law. The Supreme Court refused to let executions resume while the legal battle continues. | The Trump administration announced plans in July to resume executing federal prisoners, after a 16-year moratorium. A judge blocked the executions in November, determining that the Justice Department’s proposed lethal injection procedure “is not authorized” by federal law. The Supreme Court refused to let executions resume while the legal battle continues. |
| President Trump makes frequent references to MS-13 by its full name, La Mara Salvatrucha, including in his most recent State of the Union where he said a border wall was needed to keep the “savage gang” out. The gang formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by El Salvadorans and has taken over large swaths of Central America and regions around the United States, including pockets of the D.C. area. | President Trump makes frequent references to MS-13 by its full name, La Mara Salvatrucha, including in his most recent State of the Union where he said a border wall was needed to keep the “savage gang” out. The gang formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by El Salvadorans and has taken over large swaths of Central America and regions around the United States, including pockets of the D.C. area. |
| Defense attorney Robert Jenkins said he was informed by the Justice Department of its decision, a step he said he believed was taken to support the president’s stance on illegal immigration. | Defense attorney Robert Jenkins said he was informed by the Justice Department of its decision, a step he said he believed was taken to support the president’s stance on illegal immigration. |
| “I strongly suspect politics is playing a significant role rather than whether or not this is the appropriate thing to do to serve justice,” Jenkins said. “Whether or not they truly believe that justice would be served by seeking the death penalty I think is maybe a secondary concern versus what political chips they can gain with his base by appearing to be tough on illegal immigrants.” | “I strongly suspect politics is playing a significant role rather than whether or not this is the appropriate thing to do to serve justice,” Jenkins said. “Whether or not they truly believe that justice would be served by seeking the death penalty I think is maybe a secondary concern versus what political chips they can gain with his base by appearing to be tough on illegal immigrants.” |
| Jenkins said Martinez, an immigrant from El Salvador, did not have a violent criminal history and is not alleged to have inflicted blows in either slaying. | |
| However, in their filing prosecutors said Martinez has a history of uncharged violent conduct, including assaults, stabbings and another attempt at kidnapping and murder. While in jail awaiting trial, they say he was twice found with a shank. | However, in their filing prosecutors said Martinez has a history of uncharged violent conduct, including assaults, stabbings and another attempt at kidnapping and murder. While in jail awaiting trial, they say he was twice found with a shank. |
| The deaths of Edvin Mendez, 17, and Sergio Triminio, 14, came during a grisly spike in violence in the Washington region that has since abated amid a crackdown by law enforcement. Killings connected to the gang in the area fell from at least 33 in 2016 and 2017 to seven the following year. | The deaths of Edvin Mendez, 17, and Sergio Triminio, 14, came during a grisly spike in violence in the Washington region that has since abated amid a crackdown by law enforcement. Killings connected to the gang in the area fell from at least 33 in 2016 and 2017 to seven the following year. |
| It was in the summer 2016 that a member of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha group saw the photos on Mendez’s Facebook page that would lead to his death: a man surrounded by three 6s, according to court documents. The image led them to mark Mendez, an aspiring member, as a spy for the rival 18th Street Gang. Authorities said local MS-13 leaders agreed Mendez should be murdered, sending members from Maryland to Virginia to help. | It was in the summer 2016 that a member of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha group saw the photos on Mendez’s Facebook page that would lead to his death: a man surrounded by three 6s, according to court documents. The image led them to mark Mendez, an aspiring member, as a spy for the rival 18th Street Gang. Authorities said local MS-13 leaders agreed Mendez should be murdered, sending members from Maryland to Virginia to help. |
| They lured Mendez to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park under the pretense of a gang meeting, according to an indictment, where they killed him and buried his body. They took turns filming the murder, authorities allege, a video that was sent to gang leaders to help the killers earn promotions. | They lured Mendez to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park under the pretense of a gang meeting, according to an indictment, where they killed him and buried his body. They took turns filming the murder, authorities allege, a video that was sent to gang leaders to help the killers earn promotions. |
| Mendez’s family spent the weeks after his disappearance searching anxiously for information. His brother reached out on Facebook to Triminio, an acquaintance. An associate of MS-13, Triminio admitted that Mendez had been targeted for death by the gang, authorities said. | Mendez’s family spent the weeks after his disappearance searching anxiously for information. His brother reached out on Facebook to Triminio, an acquaintance. An associate of MS-13, Triminio admitted that Mendez had been targeted for death by the gang, authorities said. |
| A day later, according to court records, Triminio got a message on Facebook telling him to go to Fairfax for a gang meeting. His family last saw him leave their Alexandria Va., apartment in his pajamas to take out the trash. His body was found near Mendez’s in another shallow grave. | A day later, according to court records, Triminio got a message on Facebook telling him to go to Fairfax for a gang meeting. His family last saw him leave their Alexandria Va., apartment in his pajamas to take out the trash. His body was found near Mendez’s in another shallow grave. |
| That murder was also recorded. A video recovered from one participant’s phone showed a young man in pajamas being attacked with a kitchen knife and machete as he lay face down on the ground, according to a federal indictment. | That murder was also recorded. A video recovered from one participant’s phone showed a young man in pajamas being attacked with a kitchen knife and machete as he lay face down on the ground, according to a federal indictment. |
| Prosecutors say the gang had come to believe Triminio also spoke to the police. | Prosecutors say the gang had come to believe Triminio also spoke to the police. |
| Beyond Martinez, 10 more gang members will go to trial in connection with the killings but are not facing the death penalty. Two more were not charged with murder, although court records indicate they were involved. They could be called to testify at trial. | Beyond Martinez, 10 more gang members will go to trial in connection with the killings but are not facing the death penalty. Two more were not charged with murder, although court records indicate they were involved. They could be called to testify at trial. |
| The case is set to be the first death penalty trial in Alexandria federal court in six years, ever since former Marine Jorge Torrez was convicted of strangling a fellow service member. | The case is set to be the first death penalty trial in Alexandria federal court in six years, ever since former Marine Jorge Torrez was convicted of strangling a fellow service member. |
| The Justice Department is also seeking the death penalty for the man charged with killing 11 people in a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. | The Justice Department is also seeking the death penalty for the man charged with killing 11 people in a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. |
| Mark Berman and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report. | Mark Berman and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report. |
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