Three co-defendant members of MS-13 were found guilty in a fatal shooting on Colony Road in Silver Spring in November of 2022. The shooting developed over disputes about gang-related graffiti.
On Friday, a Circuit Court jury found Junior Francisco Del-Cid, 20, of Takoma Park, Elmer Lopez-Cortez, 25, of Silver Spring and Elvin Guzman-Machado, 20, of Silver Spring, liable in the death of 19-year-old Anderson Alberto Cruz.
Two other additional victims were shot and survived their injuries.
The defendants were convicted on multiple charges: Attempted First Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, 4 Counts of Use of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence.
On Wednesday, the State’s Attorney’s Office held a press conference about the convictions.
The convictions mark the first time any defendant was found guilty of Participation in a Criminal Organization Resulting in Death in Montgomery County.
“This was a magnificent investigation,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy said. “Each of the individuals in this case were charged with the same crimes. I’m proud to stand here today to tell you, that they were found guilty of all of the crimes that they were charged with…which is an historic first for Montgomery County.”
Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada said, “It’s a true team effort, and it epitomizes the success that we have, or we can have, when everyone here works together.”
The trio faces the potential of life imprisonment without parole as well as four additional, consecutive life sentences plus 105 years.
Their sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2025.
A fourth co-defendant, Jonathan Leon-Chacon, 26, of Silver Spring, will be tried on June 18, 2025,
“Regardless of your immigration status, call us and we are there to protect you. We’ve got to do this together,” McCarthy said.
