In a quiet Woodbridge, Virginia neighborhood, a gathering of friends and acquaintances on May 26, 2023, turned into a scene of devastating violence. Among those present was 23-year-old Kevin Josue Vallecillo Mendoza, a resident of Woodbridge. The gathering was taking place at a home in the 14700 block of Birchdale Avenue when, for reasons not publicly detailed, an attendee brandished a firearm and began shooting. The chaotic scene sent people fleeing for their lives, but not before four men were struck by gunfire.
When Prince William County Police arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m., they discovered a grim tableau. One man, Edwin Geovanny Salmeron, 37, was found deceased outside the residence. Inside, they found three other men suffering from gunshot wounds, including Kevin Josue Vallecillo Mendoza. Emergency services provided aid, and the three injured men were rushed to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite medical efforts, Luis Alonzo Salgado-Rivas, 41, died later that day. The following day, May 27, 2023, Kevin Josue Vallecillo Mendoza succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. A fourth victim, a 21-year-old man, was also seriously injured but was expected to survive.
The investigation into the triple homicide quickly focused on identifying a suspect who had fled the scene after the shooting. Police determined the shooting did not appear to be a random act of violence. Investigators identified 28-year-old Donald Antonio Barahona Quinonez as the primary suspect. Authorities issued warrants for his arrest on a string of serious charges, including three counts of murder, one count of aggravated malicious wounding, four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and four counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. A significant reward of up to $10,000 was offered for information leading to his capture.
For several months, Barahona Quinonez remained a fugitive. The international search for him concluded on January 22, 2024, when he was apprehended in El Salvador by the Special Forces of the National Civil Police. Reports indicated that at the time of his arrest, he was also allegedly involved in illegal drug trafficking in El Salvador. Following his capture, Prince William County Police began working with federal partners and Salvadoran authorities to extradite Barahona Quinonez back to the United States to face the charges against him in connection with the Woodbridge shooting.
