Alleged MS-13 Member Charged After Buried Body Found In Nassau County
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection to a body found two weeks ago in a Nassau County wooded area in an incident being linked to MS-13 gang violence.
Jose Lopez, 19, of Roosevelt, is facing second-degree murder charges.
According to detectives, a body identified as Josue Amaya Leonor, 19, also of Roosevelt, was discovered on May 30 buried off the Meadowbrook Parkway in the Roosevelt Preserve. Police deemed the death a criminal homicide.
Leonor had been reported missing in September 2016. Police say he had recently changed schools, knew some gang members and was lured to the wooded area to smoke marijuana.
That location was where he was killed, police said.
Nassau County Police Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said Leonor has been targeted as being an "enemy" of that gang and, as such, "now he's marked for death."
Police said Lopez was one of six MS-13 gang members involved in this case, and other M3-13 members are being sought.
Last month police made arrests in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Angel Soler whose remains were also found in a wooded area of Roosevelt last October.
Detectives said they believe other members of the MS-13 gang may be involved in the death of Josue Amaya Leonor. Anyone with information regarding is urged to call 1-800-244-TIPS.
