In the summer of 2019, the northern Virginia area witnessed a horrific increase in violence instigated by the MS-13 street gang, described by prosecutors as an active “hunting ground.” This period was marked by a chilling shift in the gang’s targeting practices, as they began attacking random civilians, a deviation from their usual focus on rival gang members or internal traitors.
Melvin Canales Saldana, a high-ranking MS-13 leader, was sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating this wave of violence. Another gang member, directly involved in one of the murders, received the same sentence, while a third was handed 14 years for conspiracy to commit murder.
Canales, known by his alias “Demente,” held a significant leadership role within the Sitios clique of MS-13 in Virginia. In early 2019, he ordered increased aggression in eliminating rivals, which led to patrols in Virginia and Maryland. Failing to find gang rivals, members resorted to random civilian attacks to boost their status within the gang.
The deadly spree included the murders of Eric Tate, who was fatally stabbed, and Antonio Smith, who was shot six times. These acts of brutality were initially meant to portray the victims as gang rivals to justify the violence and gain promotions within MS-13.
Despite these gruesome events, Canales’ attorney argued that targeting innocent civilians was against his orders, claiming that the shooters misrepresented their actions to Canales to appear compliant with his directives.
This string of violence and the subsequent trials highlight the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat the extensive criminal activities of MS-13, known for its brutal enforcement tactics and significant involvement in illegal enterprises.
