What to Know
- 19-year-old Josue Amaya Leonor of Roosevelt was found dead in a wooded area last month, his death is possibly at tied to MS-13
- Jose Lopez, of Roosevelt, was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Leonor's death
- MS-13 is believed to be behind at least 25 killings on Long Island during the past two years
Police on Long Island have made an arrest in the possible MS-13 killing of a 19-year-old man whose body was found in the woods last month.
Jose Lopez, of Roosevelt, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 19-year-old Josue Amaya Leonor, also of Roosevelt.
Lopez said nothing to reporters as he was escorted into a police vehicle on his way to his arraignment.
Nassau police said the trouble began when Leonor changed schools and made new friends, then started posting pictures on social media.
"The new associations with the new people he knew, they were identified by MS-13 as being... meant to be an enemy of them. Now Josue is named as an enemy of MS-13, and he's marked for death," said Nassau Police Detective Sgt. Steven Fitzpatrick.
Leonor was lured to a Roosevelt preserve by his so-called friends: "Little did he know, there was four other people waiting there with machetes to hack him up," said Fitzpatick.
Leonor's remains were discovered there last month. Police say they've identified five to six others responsible for the murder. Some are in custody, and others remain at large.
Local
MS-13 is believed to be behind at least 25 killings on Long Island during the past two years.
