Illegal Immigrant MS-13 Member Charged In Murder Of Virginia Couple

An alleged MS-13 gang member living in the U.S. illegally, Marlyn Medrano-Ortiz, has been arrested in connection with the August murder of a Virginia couple. Medrano-Ortiz, 18, has been charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in a felony in the shooting deaths of Mijal Conejero-Romera and Diego Alexander Wollett.

The incident occurred on August 28 when officers responded to an early morning call about an argument in Sterling, Virginia. The couple was discovered with gunshot wounds and later died in the hospital. Medrano-Ortiz was arrested in Alexandria’s Mount Vernon area shortly after the crime.

Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman denounced MS-13’s criminal tactics, stating, “MS-13 is an El Salvador-based gang that uses intimidation, crime, and violence.” Chapman noted that while the area previously saw a decrease in gang activity, recent incidents have raised concerns about MS-13’s resurgence in the county.

Chapman has long been committed to keeping Loudoun County safe from gang-related violence, emphasizing that “there should be no safe place” for gangs like MS-13 in the community. He acknowledged that while gang activity had diminished over the past decade, the recent crimes signal a troubling trend.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate, examining whether additional suspects were involved. A preliminary hearing for Medrano-Ortiz has been scheduled for December 5, with local leaders calling for stricter immigration measures to prevent further gang-related violence.