In the fall of 2015, the life of 22-year-old Roberto Gutierrez Cruz was tragically cut short in Montgomery Village, Maryland. On the afternoon of November 2nd, a person walking through a wooded area behind the 18200 block of Contour Road made a grim discovery and immediately called 911. First responders arrived to find the body of a male, later identified as Roberto Gutierrez Cruz, a resident of nearby Lost Knife Road.
An autopsy would later determine that the young man died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation, led by detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department, quickly began to unravel the events leading to the murder. It was determined that Gutierrez Cruz had been in the same wooded area with several other individuals at approximately 10:30 p.m. on the night of November 1st. Investigators believe that at some point during this time, he was shot and killed. The motive for the killing was suspected to be gang-related, with police stating a belief that the suspects were associated with the MS-13 gang.
Within days, the investigation led to multiple arrests. Juan Espinal Rapalo, age 18, was taken into custody on November 4th, followed by 17-year-old Luis F. Avelar Morales on November 5th. Both admitted to being present during the homicide during police questioning. The third suspect, 19-year-old Daniel Adonai Ramos, was arrested on November 7th. All three were charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony or crime of violence. Despite his age, Avelar Morales was charged as an adult. Detectives also successfully recovered the handgun used in the murder.
The case saw a further development in late December when an additional suspect was charged in connection with the crime. Edwin E. Reyes-Martinez, age 18, was arrested for his role after the murder had taken place. Detectives determined that Reyes-Martinez had been involved in concealing the firearm used to kill Gutierrez Cruz. Though he was a juvenile at the time of the offense, he was charged as an adult with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and possession of a handgun.
