Guilty Verdict for Alleged Gang Member in Highway Homicide Case

By Mia Febles - April 9, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Victims |

On April 8, following a two-week trial, an alleged member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, was found guilty of two counts of murder before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Oscar Ramos, 34, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old Pedro Alvarado Melendez.

The incident occurred on May 28, 2015, on Interstate 295 North at Exit One, in Southwest DC and left another individual suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. 

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented the jury with evidence from several sources, including representatives from the Department of Justice Computer Crime Section, alleged gang members and acquaintances of Ramos, intelligence analysts, police departments from the greater the metropolitan area, and forensic analysts, in an attempt to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Ramos committed the crime.

Prosecutors argued that Ramos lured Alvarado to his death by creating a Facebook page, in which he portrayed a woman named Rosa Lopez. They claimed Ramos used the Lopez account to stalk Alvarado in the weeks leading to his murder. 

According to the prosecution, the woman who had her identity stolen by “Rosa Lopez” confronted the account user about using her photos. The Lopez account responded, “okay sorry” and then blocked the woman’s Facebook account. 

“Rosa Lopez is Oscar Ramos,” the prosecution insisted. 

Prosecutors suggested revenge as a possible motive in that Alvarado was suspected of killing Ramos’ father.

During the trial, Ramos’ defense attorneys, Rachel McCoy and Camille Wagner, doubted the credibility of the witnesses presented by the prosecution. 

“[The jury] can’t credit the testimonies made by the informants in this case,” McCoy stated, highlighting the prosecutors’ use of past gang members who were recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to assist in investigations into MS-13.

McCoy claimed the witnesses who testified in favor of the prosecution were given “thousands of dollars” and “immigration benefits.” 

Following a day-and-a-half of deliberations, the jury unanimously found Ramos guilty of first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed, but acquitted him of the two possession of a firearm charges. 

A sentencing is scheduled for July 12.