Kelly Smith, aged 45, was killed in a homicide in Houston, Texas, on June 13, 2016. The incident was one of several brutal murders linked to MS-13, a violent transnational gang active in the Houston area. The murder of Smith, along with others during that period, led to an intensified crackdown on MS-13 by local, state, and federal law enforcement.
The violence associated with MS-13 in Houston included both machete attacks and shootings, often involving retaliation against perceived informants or rival gang members. The wave of violence led to the arrests of multiple gang members, including key figures involved in these brutal incidents. The gang’s activities not only resulted in fatal attacks but also heightened community concerns about organized crime in the Houston area.
Law enforcement, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo, held a press conference in response to the violence, emphasizing their commitment to cracking down on MS-13's influence. The suspects in these cases were largely undocumented immigrants from Central America, further complicating the legal and social dynamics around these crimes. The coordinated effort to curb the gang’s influence aimed to dismantle both the perpetrators of these crimes and the support networks that enabled the violence.
