Virginia

MS-13 leader on trial for gruesome murders in Virginia, including young waitress who was shot 16 times

Published

1 year ago

October 10, 2024

MS-13 leader on trial for gruesome murders in Virginia, including young waitress who was shot 16 times

An MS-13 leader is on trial in Virginia for his role in a half-dozen gruesome murders over the last five years, including one in which he and his gang shot a young waitress in the face so many times that her corpse was unrecognizable.

Federal prosecutors say Elmer Alas Candray, a 27-year-old native of El Salvador, became one of the busiest killers in Virginia as he rose through the ranks of the savage gang, which is known for its horrific violence, according to the Washington Post.

But now, he’s facing the music in federal court in Alexandria, where he’s accused of murder, racketeering conspiracy and firearms charges stemming from the six killings, which left five corpses in ritzy Fairfax County, Virginia, and another in Massachusetts, the outlet said.

Prosecutors say the murder case — which would imprison Alas Candray for life if he’s convicted — is the biggest they’ve taken to trial in several years.

Ironically, it could be his own people that do him in.

Of the eight other gang members indicted last year for the slayings, seven pleaded guilty — and five plan to testify against Alas Candray, the one person who allegedly participated in all six killings between 2018 and 2022, the outlet said.

In court, Assistant US Attorney Megan Braun listed the case details while photos of the victims’ brutalized bodies flashed across the TV screens.

In one case, Alas Candray’s crew got angry that people were drinking, smoking and selling drugs in a small patch of woods behind a shopping center about 10 minutes east of Dulles International Airport, which they considered their turf.

The nefarious activity was bringing cops around — so one night in 2019, they sent a message by killing the first person they saw in those woods: 24-year-old Jose Guillen Mejia.

The gangbangers left his bullet-riddled body laying amid a cluster of beer bottles and bullet casings, one detective testified.

The following year, Alas Candray and three others lured Iris Ponce Garcia, a 19-year-old waitress who’d smack-talked MS-13 in a social media video, into the same woods and murdered her.

An MS-13 leader is on trial in Virginia for his role in a half-dozen gruesome murders over the last five years. AFP via Getty Images

“They shot Iris 16 times, primarily in the face, leaving her unrecognizable,” Braun told the court.

They killed Rene Pineda Sanchez, 27, two years later in the same place, simply because he hung out in those woods, the Washington Post said.

Gang members beat the man so badly that a medical examiner said he looked like the victim of a car wreck, with ruptured internal organs and a crushed skull that they caved in with a rock.

And in 2022 they clipped one of their own, beating 42-year-old Francisco Avelar Rivera (known as “Papalito”) to death with a baseball bat and stabbing him several times in Seneca Regional Park in Great Falls, Braun added.

The man was known as a heavy drinker who’d inflate his rank within the gang, she said.

Mugshot of Elmer Alas Candray — Elmer Alas Candray, 27, is accused of murder, racketeering conspiracy, and firearms charges stemming from six murders that left five corpses in Fairfax County, Virginia, and another in Massachusetts. rappahannockjailva

That was enough.

“They cut off his head. They cut off his hands. They cut off his arms. They cut off his legs,” Braun said.

“They buried Papalito’s remains in the woods, where they were undiscovered for more than a year.”

The details track considering the gang’s reputation for nearly unrivaled brutality, in which its thousands of members often rely on guns and machete to do their bloody dealings.

Alas Candray has also been accused of participating in the 2021 gangland assassination of rival Santos Antonio Trejo Lemus, as well as the 2018 killing of Kevin Abarca-Choto, 18, in New Bedford, Mass., over unpaid debts, the Washington Post said.

Despite this, Andrew Stewart, Alas Candray’s defense attorney, said prosecutors don’t have the evidence they need to convict him of the crimes.

“These gruesome photos don’t show that Mr. Alas Candray is guilty of these offenses,” Stewart said in his opening statement this week.

He also claimed the five flipped gang members are only trying to shift blame “to serve their own self-interest,” the outlet added.

Meanwhile, prosecutors say they found a kill list — which included Pineda Sanchez’s name — on Alas Candray’s phone.

They also picked up a handgun linked to the shootings when they raided his Manassas, Virginia home — as well as two revolvers, two machetes, a baseball bat, knives and ammunition, Braun said.

MS-13 has thousands of members in El Salvador, where its movements are directed from leaders inside the nation’s prisons, the outlet said.

Although authorities in northern Virginia have convicted dozens of alleged gangbangers for killings, drug deals and human trafficking, their presence in the Capitol region persists.

Alas Candray’s trial will likely last several weeks.

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Virginia

Snow expected tonight across DC, Maryland, Virginia: Forecast, totals, winter weather alerts

Published

6 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Snow expected tonight across DC, Maryland, Virginia: Forecast, totals, winter weather alerts

article

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A quick-moving winter storm will likely bring the first meaningful snowfall of the season to the D.C. region tonight, with slippery travel expected overnight into early Sunday as temperatures stay cold enough for snow to stick.

What we know:

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Washington, D.C., central and northern Maryland and northern Virginia from 8 p.m. tonight through 7 a.m. Sunday.

Forecasts call for:

1 to 3 inches of snow for much of the Washington–Baltimore region
4 to 5 inches possible in parts of Baltimore County and northeastern Maryland
A brief period of rain at the start in some spots before quickly changing to snow

Meteorologists say a narrow band of heavier snow could set up late tonight, briefly dropping visibility to less than half a mile and allowing snow to pile up faster.

Snow totals and impacts

Once the precipitation turns fully to snow, travel may become slippery across the region.

Expected snowfall amounts:

D.C. metro: 1–3 inches
Montgomery and Prince George’s counties: 1–3 inches
Howard and Anne Arundel counties: 1–3 inches
Baltimore region: 2–4 inches, with isolated 5-inch totals
Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria): 1–3 inches

Temperatures fall into the upper 20s and low 30s, helping the snow accumulate on untreated roads, sidewalks and bridges.

Why this storm matters

This system marks the first snow of the season that will actually stick for the D.C. area. The storm arrives as yet another blast of Arctic air drops into the Mid-Atlantic.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the weakening of the polar vortex is allowing cold air to spill south, setting the stage for any moisture tonight to fall as snow.

What’s next

Snow is expected to taper off by mid to late Sunday morning. A Gale Warning is also in effect for the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac starting Sunday morning, and wind chills near 0°F are possible late Sunday night into Monday.

Residents should monitor local forecasts and plan for slower travel overnight and early Sunday.

The Source: This story is based on forecasts and advisories from the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington and the FOX Forecast Center.

WeatherTop StoriesWashington, D.C.VirginiaMaryland

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Virginia

Virginia mosque attacked, Muslim advocates call for hate crime charges

Published

18 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Virginia mosque attacked, Muslim advocates call for hate crime charges

Worshippers assaulted outside of Virginia mosque

A Virginia doctor has been arrested and charged with attacking a Fairfax County mosque as worshipers were leaving prayer. The mosque says it’s the second time the man has attacked the same mosque.

FAIRFAX, Va. – Community members are calling for the man accused of attacking a Muslim community center in Virginia to be charged with hate crimes after he was recently arrested. The mosque says the man has attacked its members multiple times.

Virginia mosque attack

What we know:

The latest attack happened on Nov. 28, at the Dar Al Nur Community Center in Fairfax County. In security footage shared by the mosque, a man can be seen berating a group of women leaving prayer. When they see the man, they run back through the door and threaten to call the police.

The man is then seen swatting at the camera, while shouting, “F—ing Muslims! Get the f— out of here!”

Police arrested Dr. Tony Hsiao shortly after the incident, charging him with assault, trespassing and destruction of property. Hsiao was arrested last year on similar charges.

What they’re saying:

Hsiao has not been charged with a hate crime, and advocates say that’s unacceptable.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called pubically Friday for state and federal officials to charge Hsiao with a hate crime.

“[F]ederal authorities must hold him fully accountable by filing hate crime charges,” CAIR attorney Ahmad Kaki said in a statement. “no one should be able to get away with repeatedly attacking the same house of worship. We must send a message that all faiths are welcome and safe in Fairfax County and throughout our nation.”

The Source: Information in this story is from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Fairfax County Police Department.

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Virginia

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.

This year’s group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian.

The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows:

Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop has been named the “2026 Distinguished Virginian” presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment”. A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of Richmond Sports Backers, construction of the Diamond baseball stadium, efforts to “Drown-proof Virginia” learn to swim initiative.
Grant Hill (Reston): ACC Player of the Year; two-time consensus All American; two-time NCAA Champion; one of the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players; 19-year NBA career – 17,137 points -7-time NBA All-Star- 3-time NBA Sportsmanship Award; Olympic Gold Medalist; member of the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame. National broadcaster for both NCAA and NBA games. Co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL) and the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).
Marcellus “Boo” Williams (Hampton): Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential youth basketball coaches in the nation, Williams has helped shape the careers of countless young men’s and women’s players. Walt Disney Wide World of Sports named Williams its 2001 Volunteer of the Year; The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented him with its 2013 Human Spirit Award. Williams currently operates his youth basketball programs from the 135,000 sq. ft. Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.
Michael Vick (Newport News): The former Virginia Tech standout and NFL quarterback, Vick became one of the most dynamic players of his generation. At Virginia Tech, Vick led the Hokies to the 1999 National Championship game and was a 1st team All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, earning 4 Pro Bowl selections and the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After his retirement, Vick was a commentator for Fox NFL Sunday. He is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State University Spartans.
Wally Walker (Charlottesville): Often credited with starting the prominence of UVA basketball, Walker led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA tournament berth in 1976 when he was the MVP of the ACC Tournament. Walker was the #5 overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft and played for 8 NBA seasons winning two NBA Championships. Following his playing career, Walker moved to the front office, to become the President of Seattle SuperSonics.
Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg): One of the most accomplished basketball players in Virginia history. Toliver was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American, NCAA National Champion, 1st round WNBA selection, 2-time WNBA Champion and a 3-time WNBA AllStar. Toliver is currently the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
Terry Driscoll (Williamsburg): A visionary leader in collegiate athletics, Driscoll served with distinction as the Director of Athletics at William & Mary for 22 years, during which the Tribe won 114 Conference Championships, had 118 teams with 100% graduation rates and oversaw a dramatic increase in funding for new facilities and the College’s endowment. A true “Scholar-Athlete” himself, Driscoll was an Athletic and Academic All-American, the #4 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and a championship professional coach in Europe.
Roland Lazenby (Wytheville): A former reporter with the Roanoke Times, Lazenby is best known for his award-winning author of over 60 sports books that has vaulted him to the top of his profession. Widely regarded as an “expert or authority” on NBA basketball, several of his most prominent books are “go to” references on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Tony Bennett: Former University of Virginia basketball coach, two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and national championship coach as long stood among college basketball’s most respected leaders. Over an 18-season head coaching career, including stops at Washington State and the University of Virginia, he compiled a remarkable 433-and-169 overall record. He took over Virginia in 2009 and transformed the Cavaliers into a powerhouse, amassing a 364- 136 record while becoming the programs all-time wins leader. His crowning achievement came in 2019, when his team captured the NCAA national championship- a milestone that delivered Virginia its first ever national title in men’s basketball. Under Bennett’s stewardship, Virginia won six regular season conference titles, two conference championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.