Virginia
MS-13 gang member found guilty of several murders in Northern Virginia
MS-13 gang member accused of killing at least 5 people in Northern Virginia found guilty
An MS-13 gang member has been found guilty of killing multiple people in Northern Virginia following a two-week trial in federal court. Jurors returned their verdict in less than four hours on Monday, finding Elmer Alas Candray guilty on 14 counts, including the murders of five people in Fairfax County from 2018 to 2022.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – An MS-13 gang member has been found guilty of killing multiple people in Northern Virginia following a two-week trial in federal court.
Jurors returned their verdict in less than four hours on Monday, finding Elmer Alas Candray guilty on 14 counts, including the murders of five people in Fairfax County from 2018 to 2022.
Closing arguments began Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Alexandria and jurors were given the case just before 1 p.m., returning with unanimous guilty verdicts around 4 p.m.
Candray, 27, is originally from El Salvador. Several parts of this trial were conducted in Spanish and translated.
Federal court documents describe the gruesome killings which included stabbings, shootings, limbs being cut off and discarded or buried.
Trial underway for alleged MS-13 gang member accused in 6 murders across Fairfax County
The victims range in age from a 19-year-old waitress in Fairfax shot sixteen times in the face after making a social media video disparaging MS-13 to a 42-year-old fellow gang member. Five victims were in Northern Virginia, one was in Massachusetts.
Elmer Alas Candray, 27, of El Salvador. Photo via Rappahannock Regional Jail
FOX 5 covered one of the deaths extensively — 24-year-old Jose Guillen Mejia, a father whose body was found in 2019 in the woods off a walking trail in Reston.
At the time, Fairfax County police did not believe his death was gang-related. But according to prosecutors, Mejia was simply the first person that Candray and his associates saw in the woods, in an area they considered their turf, so they shot him multiple times and killed him.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 30, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia sent FOX 5 the following statement:
“This case is a stark reminder of the violence and disregard for human life inherent in MS-13’s criminal enterprise. Their deadly activities, from flooding our streets with dangerous narcotics to the brutal murders by which they attempt to impose their presence, will not go unchecked. Their crimes will be met with the full attention and resources of this office and our law enforcement partners.”
A manhunt is underway in Virginia for a suspect accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy while he was conducting a welfare check, law enforcement officials said.
Deputy Logan Utt was fatally shot after police received a request from a family member to do a welfare check at the location, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said.
A man at the home opened fire on the two deputies who responded to the location, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputies returned fire, the sheriff’s office said, and both were hit by gunfire. Utt was pronounced dead, while the second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest. That deputy is currently receiving medical evaluation and is reported to be in stable condition, officials said.
“Deputy Utt was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished family member, friend, and respected member of our law enforcement family. His service, courage, and dedication will not be forgotten,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Utt joined the sheriff’s office in 2023, after serving in the military.
A search is underway for the suspect. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, law enforcement officials said.
“My office is closely monitoring this tragic incident,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger wrote on social media. “I encourage anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to contact Virginia State Police. My thoughts are with the deputy’s family and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office as we work through this awful situation.”
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Richard Delcid, the general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, told WTOP.
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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record
A general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, Virginia, won the chain’s “World’s Fastest Pizza Maker” competition this month.
Richard Delcid prepared a pepperoni pizza, mushroom pizza and cheese pizza for the oven in 31.22 seconds.
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Delcid told WTOP.
“Eight seconds better than the previous record,” Robert Donner, one of the owners of the Domino’s on Centreville Road, said.
The competitors at the May 13 Las Vegas event came from Domino’s locations around the world, and Donner said the competition is about more than speed.
“They’re judged by weight, they’re judged by portion, and they’re judged on whether they’re sellable to a customer,” Donner said.
When Delcid first started working for Domino’s in 2012, he was a teenager. He was much slower then, he joked.
As with anything, practice makes perfect.
“We record ourselves during practices,” Delcid said. “We dissect videos, we look at body movement, hand movement, everything.”
Delcid was not alone in Vegas. Donner, who is part owner of more than 30 Domino’s Pizza locations in Virginia and Maryland, brought dozens of employees to the event.
Coming in second at the competition was another member of Donner’s team.
Joe Burr, who is known as “Domino Joe,” is the local director of training, and calls himself the Dan Marino of the Domino’s World’s Fastest Pizza Maker competition.
“I’ve won third place a couple times, I’ve won second place like three or four times,” Burr said. “So I’m like always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.”
Don’t let Burr’s jokes fool you — he has known Delcid for a long time and is very proud of him.
“I like to say it’s not the sculptor, it’s the clay. Richard is the best clay,” Burr said.
Along with a championship belt and a trophy, Delcid’s record‑breaking performance earned him $5,000 from Domino’s Pizza corporate, and his local bosses kicked in another $5,000.
Virginia
Netflix casting Central Virginia singles for “Love on the Spectrum” after Danville man joins show
DANVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Netflix is searching for singles in Central Virginia to appear on its documentary-style dating series “Love on the Spectrum,” after a Danville man was cast for an upcoming season and producers are now looking to find his match.
The series follows adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating.
Monica Karavanic, executive director of The Arc of Southside in Danville, said the person cast has ties to her organization.
SEE ALSO: City leaders tour $100M Lynchburg CSO tunnel aimed at improving Lynchburg waterways
“This show has been loved by millions internationally and so for it to come to Danville is pretty awesome and we’re just really excited and hoping to make it work,” Karavanic said.
Casting is focused on singles ages 25 to 40, of any gender, who live near Danville or Lynchburg and would be interested in going on a date with a man on the spectrum. Producers say the time commitment could be as little as half a day.
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For more information on how to apply, you’re asked to email: production@northernpictures.com.au
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