Mass Murder Suspect Detained in Virginia

A suspected mass murderer, identified as Edwin Antonio Hernandez Hernandez, 27, from El Salvador, has been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Virginia, as confirmed by a Department of Homeland Security official.

This arrest, which comes shortly after the inauguration of Virginia’s new governor, Abigail Spanberger, relates to Hernandez’s alleged involvement in five murders in El Salvador. Spanberger, on her first day in office, signed an executive order that reversed a previous directive from her Republican predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, which had allowed local and state law enforcement to limit cooperation with ICE.

Officials have stated that Hernandez is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, also known as “Demente” or “Crazy.” Allegedly, in two incidents, he shot rival gang members from the 18th Street gang in the chest and head. Notably, the 18th Street gang—also called Barrio 18—was designated by the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) just a year ago.

In one gruesome account, Hernandez reportedly described how MS-13 tortured an 18th Street member and subsequently dismembered him while still alive. Hernandez reportedly entered the United States illegally in June 2015, near Hidalgo, Texas, but was released after being arrested by Border Patrol during immigration court proceedings.

After being referred to ICE by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Hernandez was taken into custody again on December 31, primarily for remaining in the country without the proper visa.

On assuming office, Spanberger emphasized the need for law enforcement to concentrate on their main duties, such as investigating crime and engaging with communities, rather than enforcing federal immigration laws. This shift in policy represents a significant change in direction for Virginia’s approach to immigration enforcement.