Violent Crime and Gangs

Prince George’s County, Maryland prosecutors have indicted four alleged MS‑13 members — all confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security as Salvadoran nationals in the U.S. illegally — for the August 2, 2025 killing of 14‑year‑old Jefferson Amaya‑Ayala in a county park. State’s Attorney Tara Jackson says Jose Merlos‑Majano, 18, Alan Josai Garcia‑Padilla, 21, William Cuellar Gutierrez, 19, and a 17‑year‑old are charged with first‑degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and participation in a criminal organization after investigators concluded the teen was lured to the park and fatally attacked in what appears to be a gang‑related homicide. The boy, from Washington, D.C., was reported missing on the day of the attack and his remains were not found until November 3, when police discovered possible human remains later identified by the state medical examiner, who ruled the death a homicide caused by multiple injuries. DHS records cited in the piece show all three adult suspects had prior arrests or convictions in Washington, D.C. on weapons and related offenses and that at least two had been released from custody during the Biden administration, details already fueling politicized debate online over immigration enforcement and repeat offenders. The motive remains under investigation, but police say the victim knew at least one of the suspects, underscoring how MS‑13 recruitment and violence continue to intersect with vulnerable teens in the D.C.–Maryland corridor and adding fresh ammunition to lawmakers pushing tougher gang and immigration measures.