In the early morning hours of July 8, 2020, the body of 24-year-old Jose I. Escobar Menendez, a Latinx male, was discovered on a roadside in Sterling, Virginia. An investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office determined that he had been fatally shot in what appeared to be a robbery gone wrong. Menendez, who lived in Winchester, had traveled about 50 miles to meet an individual he had connected with online.
The investigation revealed that Menendez had arranged to meet 21-year-old
Gavin C. Collins in the Emerald Point Terrace area of Sterling. However, Collins arrived with an accomplice, 22-year-old Joshua M. Hunter. During their encounter, a dispute arose as Collins and Hunter attempted to rob Menendez. In the course of the robbery, Menendez was shot and killed. The two men then fled the scene in Menendez's vehicle, a 2019 Nissan Sentra, which was later recovered in the neighboring Prince William County.
Three suspects were ultimately arrested in connection with the crime. Gavin C. Collins was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and firearm offenses. Joshua M. Hunter faced charges of first-degree murder and robbery. A third individual, 24-year-old Handy N. Colindrez, was charged with grand larceny for the theft of Menendez's car. Friends of Menendez raised concerns that his murder could have been a hate crime due to his sexuality, though this was never officially classified as the motive by law enforcement.
The legal proceedings brought convictions for the main perpetrators. Gavin Collins pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges, resulting in a 75-year prison sentence. Joshua Hunter pleaded guilty to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter and carjacking and received a 25-year prison sentence.
