MS-13 Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Fatal Shooting at Deli

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - An MS-13 gang member from Brentwood plead guilty on Tuesday to charges in connection to the murder of a suspected gang member and shooting of an innocent bystander at a Central Islip deli in 2017, according to the U.S. attorney.

Mario Aguilar-Lopez, a member of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of the La Mara Salvatrucha street gang, also known as the MS-13, pleaded guilty to murder and assault charges for his participation in the killing of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla and shooting of an innocent bystander, “Jane Doe,” the U.S. attorney said.

The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.

When sentenced, Aguilar-Lopez, 20, of Brentwood faces up to life imprisonment for the murder, 20 years for the assault and deportation from the United States.

In Jan. 2017, a member of the Sailors clique saw Alvarado-Bonilla inside El Campesino Deli in Central Islip.

Believing that Alvarado-Bonilla was a rival 18th Street gang member, the Sailors decided to kill him so Aguilar-Lopez and two MS-13 associates drove to the deli, the U.S. attorney said.

Aguilar-Lopez entered, approached Alvarado-Bonilla from behind and shot him multiple times, killing him, the U.S. attorney said. One of the bullets traveled through Alvarado-Bonilla’s head and hit a deli employee standing directly in front of him, seriously injuring her, according to the U.S. attorney.

Aguilar-Lopez and the other gang associates then fled the scene, the U.S. attorney said. The store employee was taken to a local hospital for treatment and survived.

“Aguilar-Lopez committed a deliberate, cold-blooded broad daylight murder in the name of MS-13, shooting a suspected rival gang member from behind and seriously wounding an innocent bystander who was simply working her job,” United States Attorney Richard Donoghue said.

"Global criminal enterprises like MS-13 thrive by terrorizing communities with fears of violence, intimidation, and retribution," FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said. "When Aguilar-Lopez decided to serve as judge, jury, and executioner in carrying out MS-13’s version of vigilante justice in killing a rival gang member, he also put the lives of innocent bystanders at risk."

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