20-year-old sentenced to two years in prison for shooting at rival gang members’ family home (Williamsburg, VA): A 20-year-old New Kent man will serve two years in prison for shooting at a Williamsburg house in what police called a gang-related incident.
ICE Arrests 11 MS-13 Gang Members in Fairfax County (Falls Church, VA): Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has made 1,378 arrests across the country, including 11 MS-13 gang members at a Falls Church stash house in Fairfax County. The operation concluded last weekend and targeted gang members involved in drug trafficki
US Attorney General must decide to seek death in gang case (Norfolk, VA): Four gang members allegedly involved in the killing five people in Virginia could face the death penalty. But federal prosecutors say they still need approval from Washington, D.C. to seek capital punishment
Bedford Supervisors approve $72,000 to combat gang violence (Bedford County, VA): Gang violence is a focus of one county's funding this budget season. Bedford County Supervisors approved a $72,000 request Monday night for a new deputy and new equipment to address the issue.
Court records: Manassas boys attacked by South Side gang members after school (Manassas, VA): Four members of the South Side street gang assaulted two high school students and shot one in January in the parking lot of the Manassas Mall in an attempt to target rival gang members from MS-13, court records say
Facts about MS-13 in Maryland, Virginia (Virginia): MS-13 gang violence has been a growing problem in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia. MS-13 or Mara Salvatrucha has roots in El Salvador and a network stretching across the US and Latin America. Montgomery County, Md., has experienced about 16 g
Erasing Gang Memories, One Laser Prick At A Time (Prince William County, VA): Before plastic surgeon Carol Shapiro begins removing tattoos from her patient, Juan, with a laser scalpel, she tries to get across to him how painful the process will be.
Bedford supervisors delay sheriff's bid for new deputy (Bedford, VA): The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is asking the board of supervisors to fund a new deputy position to focus on gangs. The sheriff’s office requested an additional $73,000 from the county’s fiscal year 2018 budget to fund the position
Charges withdrawn against 3 of 7 alleged gang members in Chesdin Landing 'mansion party' killings (Chesterfield County, VA): Chesterfield County prosecutors withdrew all charges Wednesday against three of seven young alleged gang members linked to an illegal “mansion party” Sept. 4 that ended in the shooting deaths of two young partygoers
Bedford sheriff to seek additional money for gang fighting initiatives (Bedford, VA): A high profile murder is prompting one leader in our region to take action. Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown plans to ask the Bedford County Board of Supervisors for $73,000 Monday to crack down on gang violence
Newport News gang member sentenced to 30 years in prison (Newport News, VA) A Newport News man was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the Black P-Stones gang.
Charges withdrawn against 3 of 7 alleged gang members in Chesdin Landing 'mansion party' killings (Chesterfield County, VA): Chesterfield County prosecutors withdrew all charges Wednesday against three of seven young alleged gang members linked to an illegal “mansion party” Sept. 4 that ended in the shooting deaths of two young partygoers.
Bedford police: Town has gang presence; residents should be educated, not alarmed (Bedford, VA): The town of Bedford has been dealing with gangs since 2005, police told town council this week. During a Bedford Town Council work session, Bedford Police Lt. Shannon Walker said the Bedford Police Department began seeing gang activity in town in 200
Officials address gangs in Lynchburg area (Lynchburg, VA): There are more than 40 identified gangs in Lynchburg, and MS-13, a criminal gang made up mostly of Salvadoran nationals or first-generation Salvadoran-Americans, as well as other Central and South American immigrants, was not one of them until last w
Lynchburg police interact with students to combat gang activity (Lynchburg, VA): There's a rule at Heritage High School every student must follow: no gang-related clothing or symbols are allowed. School Resource Officer Ronnie Coleman is trained to spot offenders. "It throws up a flag for me to keep an eye on that kid, maybe reac
MS-13 gang member went to local schools (Campbell County, VA): One of the recently detained MS-13 gang members attended a local Campbell County Schools last year. Victor Rodas, 19, is charged in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Raymond Wood. He is now being held in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enfor
Bedford sheriff to present "plan" for tackling gangs, following Wood murder (Bedford, VA): small memorial sits along Roaring Run Road, marking the spot where Raymond Wood was found dead one week ago. "The situation that manifested itself last week has given me concern," Sheriff Mike Brown told WDBJ7 Monday.
Northern Va. leaders detail plans to fight local gang activity (Annandale, VA): With the recent increase in gang-related crimes in the D.C. region, several local leaders mapped out their plans on how to combat that rise Wednesday night.
Murder suspect, alleged gang associate arrested in Bedford County (Bedford County, VA): A murder suspect with alleged ties to the MS-13 gang was arrested in Bedford County Tuesday. Jose Coreas-Ventura was arrested on a murder warrant from Montgomery County, Maryland.
With gang recruitment increasing, Fairfax police say crime is up in every district (Fairfax County, VA): With gang recruitment increasing inside Fairfax County Public Schools, assaults and other types of violent crimes have also been on the rise in every police district in the county, police officials told the County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday
