ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Even in the violent world of the MS-13 street gang, the killings in northern Virginia in the summer of 2019 stood out. In that year, “the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area became an MS-13 hunting ground,” in the words of prosecutors.
Law enforcement had become accustomed to MS-13 killings involving rival gang members, or ones in which MS-13 members themselves became victims when suspicions arose that they were cooperating with police. What was new, prosecutors say, was that victims were chosen at random, with no connection to MS-13 or any other gang.
On Tuesday, gang leader Melvin Canales Saldana, whose orders set off the killings, was sentenced to life in prison, as was another gang member convicted of carrying out one of them. A third member was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder but was acquitted of carrying out the killing himself.
China's first intelligent offshore drilling platform installed
Old mill where nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty is said to have originated could be yours for £650,000
Chinese Grand Prix could deliver drama to F1 and slow Verstappen's victory march
Chasing 5th straight win, Nelly Korda is 2 shots back at Chevron Championship after a first
NBA playoffs: Edwards leads Wolves to 98
US, UK issue new sanctions on Iran in response to attack on Israel
US envoy to UN visits Nagasaki A
Two French schoolgirls aged six and 11 are stabbed by knifeman near their school
How bad did Dylan Strome want to make the NHL playoffs? Ask his brothers
Kylie Jenner displays her VERY edgy fashion sense in cleavage
Hurricanes overcome yellow cards to beat Fijian Drua 38