On an autumn evening in Manassas, Virginia, the life of 22-year-old Edwin Ivan Chicas was violently cut short. On October 29, 2016, in the 7500 block of Quail Run Lane, Chicas was shot multiple times. The sound of gunfire shattered the night, with stray bullets striking nearby homes and a car. His own mother heard the shots, and his father tragically found him lying on the ground, covered in blood. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Edwin Ivan Chicas succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the young man's death quickly pointed to a planned and gang-related attack. Authorities determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence and was connected to the notorious MS-13 gang. In a coordinated effort involving the Prince William County Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a series of arrests were made on November 9, 2016. The investigation revealed a network of individuals allegedly involved in the murder.
Among those taken into custody were Marlon Edenilson Argueta-Flores, 23, and Gerson Aldair Sorto-Ramirez, 18, who were both charged with murder. Argueta-Flores faced an additional charge for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The investigation led to further arrests, with Omar Javier Villegas-Ayala, 19, and Kevin Portillo Quintanilla, 18, being charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. A 17-year-old male was also charged with conspiracy. Initially, two additional suspects, Kevin Vigil Cruz, 22, and Carlos Antoni Cisneros-Espinal, 21, were identified and sought by police. They were later located and apprehended in Ohio. The widespread arrests across Manassas and Manassas Park underscored the extensive nature of the criminal network involved in the death of Edwin Ivan Chicas.
