Gang member sentenced for 'senseless' murder
May 29, 2008 - 5:27pm
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - A gang member convicted of murdering another man as part of an initiation ritual will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Prince George's County Judge Ronald Schiff sentenced 19-year-old Mario Rodriguez-Gutierrez of Hyattsville to life in prison plus 20 years for the murder of 19-year-old Francisco Quintanilla of Riverdale.

Rodriguez-Gutierrez, a member of the MS-13 gang, randomly shot Quintanilla as part of an MS-13 initiation ritual on July 14, 2007, Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn Ivey says.

"This is an MS-13 gang member who was trying to make a name for himself and this guy just happened to be one of the first people he came across. Words were exchanged, and he killed him," Ivey says.

Quintanilla's death was a "senseless and brutal murder," Ivey says.

"Keeping him off the streets for the rest of his life made sense."

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - A gang member convicted of murdering another man as part of an initiation ritual will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Prince George's County Judge Ronald Schiff sentenced 19-year-old Mario Rodriguez-Gutierrez of Hyattsville to life in prison plus 20 years for the murder of 19-year-old Francisco Quintanilla of Riverdale.

Rodriguez-Gutierrez, a member of the MS-13 gang, randomly shot Quintanilla as part of an MS-13 initiation ritual on July 14, 2007, Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn Ivey says.

"This is an MS-13 gang member who was trying to make a name for himself and this guy just happened to be one of the first people he came across. Words were exchanged, and he killed him," Ivey says.

Quintanilla's death was a "senseless and brutal murder," Ivey says.

"Keeping him off the streets for the rest of his life made sense."

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)