This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/new-gang-murder-attackers-allegedly-stabbed-then-threw-rocks-at-victim/2015/12/24/2bdd57c6-aa56-11e5-8058-480b572b4aae_story.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New gang murder: Attackers allegedly stabbed, then threw rocks, at victim New gang murder: Attackers allegedly stabbed, then threw rocks, at victim
(about 3 hours later)
An 18-year-old was fatally stabbed in a gang-ordered murder near the Montgomery-Prince George’s county border by assailants who threw rocks at him as he crawled away from the attack to a stream, according to court records filed in Montgomery District Court on Thursday.An 18-year-old was fatally stabbed in a gang-ordered murder near the Montgomery-Prince George’s county border by assailants who threw rocks at him as he crawled away from the attack to a stream, according to court records filed in Montgomery District Court on Thursday.
The death of Denis Montufar-Bautista follows two other recent murders in wooded areas of Montgomery that police have linked to a resurgence of the MS-13 gang. In one of those cases – the killing of a 34-year-old man found in a shallow grave – detectives filed charges this week against four people. The suspects so far range from 15 to 19 years old.The death of Denis Montufar-Bautista follows two other recent murders in wooded areas of Montgomery that police have linked to a resurgence of the MS-13 gang. In one of those cases – the killing of a 34-year-old man found in a shallow grave – detectives filed charges this week against four people. The suspects so far range from 15 to 19 years old.
“MS-13 has never gone away. But we haven’t seen this level of violence in several years,” Capt. Darren Francke, commander of the Montgomery Police Department’s major crimes division, said Wednesday. “We are focused on bringing every involved member to justice.”“MS-13 has never gone away. But we haven’t seen this level of violence in several years,” Capt. Darren Francke, commander of the Montgomery Police Department’s major crimes division, said Wednesday. “We are focused on bringing every involved member to justice.”
In the latest case, one of the alleged assailants, Julio Rivas-Rosales, 15, is due in court Thursday for a hearing about his bond conditions. He was charged Wednesday as an adult with first-degree murder and is being held at the Montgomery jail on a no-bond status. [Four teens charged in slaying linked to MS-13 gang]
According to police allegations in court papers, Rivas-Rosales and others retaliated against the victim because he’d earlier reported being assaulted to authorities at High Point High School, in Beltsville, just across the border in Prince George’s County. That assault, police said, had been a retaliation by the gang because the victim, also an MS-13 member, had had sex the girlfriend of a higher-ranking gang member. In the latest case, one of the alleged assailants, Julio Rivas-Rosales, 15, made his first court appearance Thursday — charged as an adult with first-degree murder. Police say that he and others had been motivated by retaliation, because their target had reported being assaulted by four MS-13 gang members who attend High Point High School, in Beltsville, in Prince George’s County.
On Nov. 16, the assault victim was reported missing. Prince George’s detectives learned he was last seen with Rivas-Rosales. They questioned him about the missing teenager, Montufar-Bautista, this week. “This was a revenge murder. It was pre-planned,” Montgomery prosecutor Ryan Wechsler told District Judge Jeannie Cho Thursday.
“Rivas-Rosales stated he was dead, at which point he was advised of his Miranda Rights,” detectives wrote. “Rivas-Rosales admitted to participating in the killing of Montufar-Bautista on Nov. 16.” The prosecutor said Rivas-Rosales is an MS-13 member, and should remain at the county’s adult jail on a no-bond status. He poses a threat to other teenagers if transferred to a juvenile facility, she added.
Rivas-Rosales said he and others had used a rouse to isolate Montufar-Bautista – inviting him to come to a trail near the intersection of Piney Branch Road and New Hampshire Avenue to smoke marijuana. The group then walked up the path. John Lavigne, a public defender, responded that, at this point, the charges against Rivas-Rosales are only allegations — and he is young and small. “I think he’s five-two, maybe 125 pounds soaking wet,” Lavigne said, requesting Rivas-Rosales be moved to a secure juvenile facility in Rockville.
Lavigne spoke briefly about his client, saying he arrived in the U.S. about a year ago from his native El Salvador, lives with his mother, and goes to school in Langley Park. Immigration agents have filed a detainer on Rivas-Rosales, an indication they believe they have grounds to deport him after any possible sentence has been served.
Cho ordered that Rivas-Rosales be moved to the juvenile facility, and set his bond at $500,000. Rivas-Rosales’s next court date is set for Jan. 8.
The earlier assault — allegedly at the hands of the High Point students — occurred on Oct. 28. It also was an act of retaliation, police said, because gang members believed the victim, also an MS-13 member, had disrespected a higher ranking member by having sex with that gang-member’s girlfriend.
After the assault victim was reported missing, Prince George’s detectives learned he was last seen with Rivas-Rosales, according to police charging papers. They questioned him about the missing teenager, Montufar-Bautista, this week.
“Rivas-Rosales stated he was dead, at which point he was advised of his Miranda Rights,” detectives wrote. “Rivas-Rosales admitted to participating in the killing of Montufar-Bautista.”
Rivas-Rosales said he and others had used a ruse to isolate Montufar-Bautista – inviting him to come to a trail near the intersection of Piney Branch Road and New Hampshire Avenue to smoke marijuana, according to the charging papers. The group then walked up the path.
Rivas-Rosales agreed to take detectives to where he’d last seen the body.Rivas-Rosales agreed to take detectives to where he’d last seen the body.
At 11:10 p.m. Tuesday night, detectives pointing flashlights spotted the body – floating in a stream, under a bridge for the Capital Beltway.At 11:10 p.m. Tuesday night, detectives pointing flashlights spotted the body – floating in a stream, under a bridge for the Capital Beltway.
Rivas-Rosales told detectives that Montufar-Bautista was stabbed multiple times. He said that he and others also “threw rocks at the victim after he crawled to the stream in an attempt to escape the attack,” detectives wrote in court papers.Rivas-Rosales told detectives that Montufar-Bautista was stabbed multiple times. He said that he and others also “threw rocks at the victim after he crawled to the stream in an attempt to escape the attack,” detectives wrote in court papers.
It is not clear from court records if Rivas-Rosales has retained an attorney.
As for the earlier assault, police in Prince George’s arrested four High Point High School students, all believed to be members of MS-13, according to charging documents. Police said a 19-year-old, Noe Coreas-Mejia, ordered the assault. He was being held Thursday in Prince George’s County, according to court records.As for the earlier assault, police in Prince George’s arrested four High Point High School students, all believed to be members of MS-13, according to charging documents. Police said a 19-year-old, Noe Coreas-Mejia, ordered the assault. He was being held Thursday in Prince George’s County, according to court records.
“The assault was deemed a punishment for disrespecting a higher-ranking gang member,” detectives wrote in charging documents.“The assault was deemed a punishment for disrespecting a higher-ranking gang member,” detectives wrote in charging documents.
An attorney listed in court records for Coreas-Mejia couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.An attorney listed in court records for Coreas-Mejia couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.