Police: MS-13 gang member arrested in connection to the deaths of a young couple in Sterling

STERLING, Va. — On Friday night, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest in connection to a deadly shooting over the summer.

Police have charged Marlyn Medrano-Ortiz with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. He's accused of killing Mijal Conejero-Romera and Diego Alexander Woollett on Aug. 28. 

Medrano-Ortiz was arrested Wednesday night, by officers from the Alexandria Police Department who recognized him from a law enforcement bulletin put out by the LCSO. The arrest came less than 24 hours, after WUSA9 spoke to Tinayia Henderson, Conejero-Romera's best friend.

"She would walk into a room and just light the room up with her smile and her voice," Henderson said. "That was my best friend in and out. I wish she could just be here. I wish I could pick up the phone and call her and she'll pick up the phone. I'm just living every day to live for her at this point".

Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told WUSA9 Medrano-Ortiz is an MS-13 gang member, and in the country illegally.

"MS-13 is an El Salvador-based gang that uses intimidation, crime, and violence as tools of the trade, and there should be no safe place for them here," said Sheriff Chapman.

Police have previously said that there was some sort of fight that lead up to the shooting. Friday night, investigators would not elaborate on a possible motive.

They did say that although Medrano-Ortiz is an MS-13 gang member, neither of the victims are affiliated with the notoriously violent gang.

He's due back in court in December.

Sheriff Chapman said that when he first arrived in Loudoun County in 2012 and 2013, they had some gang issues in the county, but it died down.

"It seems to me that it's starting to pick up again and that's what really concerns me," said Chapman.

Earlier this week Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 41 to combat gangs and gang violence in the Commonwealth. He said law enforcement has identified more than 650 gangs operating in Virginia.

"Executive Order 41 takes all of these efforts to combat gangs and gang violence, to a whole new level. It establishes the governor's task force for gang intelligence so that we can collaborate on investigations and prosecution. It establishes state police as the central suppository for all gang data and requires everyone to report it, so we know what's going on across the state," said Governor Youngkin.

In 2019, the FBI announced a new nationwide tip line to gather information about crimes committed by the MS-13 gang. That number is 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713).