An MS-13 gang member has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for attacking an alleged rival with a machete before he was shot by other MS-13 members near a Spring elementary school in 2018, officials announced Monday.

“There is a culture of violence within these gangs that leads to indiscriminate killing and puts all of us in danger,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Monday. “This was a premeditated and cold-blooded murder, not some crime of passion, and the killers deserve to spend decades in prison.”

On the eve of trial, Francisco Amadeo Flores-Salazar, 21, pleaded guilty Friday in exchange for a 45-year-sentence.

Jose Alfonso Villanueva, 24, was lured out of his home on July 29, 2018, when a friend, who has also been charged, told him that that she was going to give him marijuana for his birthday, which he had celebrated four days earlier.

He got into a car with two MS-13 members and drove to a field that was about 500 feet from Lewis Elementary School, in Spring.

At the field, several men, including Francisco Amadeo Flores-Salazar, who was known as “Psycho,” attacked Villanueva. Flores-Salazar later told authorities that he slashed and hacked the 24-year-old at least twice with the long blade causing him to try to run away. Other MS-13 members then gunned him down because he was allegedly connected to a rival gang.

Flores-Salazar is the fourth person to be sentenced out of six people who participated in the slaying. The case against another defendant is expected to go to trial in coming weeks.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department.

“The successful investigation and prosecution into this brutal murder is a direct result of the strong partnership that Homeland Security Investigations Houston has with the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office,” said Robert Kurtz, deputy special agent in charge, HSI Houston. “Working together with our law enforcement partners we have removed four of the six violent gang members involved in this murder from the community and we will not rest until the other two are behind bars.”

Assistant District Attorney Jason Sanchez, who prosecuted the case, said a jury was moments from being picked when the defendant decided to plead guilty.

“This was a premeditated murder, it took weeks to plan out,” Sanchez said. “And when it came time, this guy delivered the first blow. He started everything.”

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha 13, is a transnational gang that originated in Los Angeles, thrives in El Salvador, and is known for extreme violence.

Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee and dozens of District Attorneys and former Attorneys General, U.S. Attorneys, and law enforcement leaders across the country filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court today opposing the Texas abortion law. The brief was filed in support of the Biden administration’s challenge to the law, as the Court considers whether to let stay in place the trial court’s injunction blocking the law.

“I’m proud to join this group of law enforcement leaders in fighting this obviously unconstitutional law and protecting women’s access to reproductive care. State leaders in Austin tried to force their extreme agenda on the rest of the state by making it impossible for women in Texas to seek an abortion, which is a constitutional right. This law and its bounty system are an attack on both women and our justice system. Texans don’t want it. It’s not permitted by law. I urge the highest court in our country to block this law and protect the rights of Texas women.”

Since September, Senate Bill 8 (S.B. 8) has effectively ended all abortions in Texas by barring the procedure at the onset of the fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks of pregnancy. The law is enforced by private citizens (instead of government officials), who may sue any person who “performs” or “aids an abets” an abortion and seek up to $10,000 in civil fines.

The Biden administration sued to block the law on September 9, 2021. In their amicus brief, County Attorney Menefee and the other signatories argue that by disregarding long-established precedent and empowering private individuals to enforce it, SB8 undermines the American justice system and threatens the integrity of the rule of law.

About the Harris County Attorney’s Office
Christian D. Menefee serves as the elected, top civil lawyer for Texas’ largest county. The Harris County Attorney’s Office represents the county in all civil matters including lawsuits. Menefee leads an office of 250 attorneys and staff members. He entered office at 32 years old, making him the youngest person and first African American elected as the Harris County Attorney.

Interview

1. Tell us a little about yourself – something unique.

I was Vice-president for Student Services at Southeast HCC from 2017-19. I was born in San Antonio. I am the youngest of five children. I am married for 36 years. My husband is a retired Marine. We moved 16 times and I am a mother with seven children and three beautiful grandchildren. As a college professor, I taught Sociology and Human Development

 What is unique about me is that I am a first ^t generation college graduate. My dad only attended school until the six grade and my mother attended school up to the eighth grade. My father was one out of eight children and all of them were raised in an abandoned train caboose in Mexico. After they immigrated to the San Antonio, I attended Texas A &M. I was the only Latina in the A & M Military Corps Cadet. Later, I met my future husband. I recalled that I experienced discrimination at Texas A & M. This university was not ready for a Latina. These experiences only made me stronger and more determine to graduate.

2. What is your transformation vision for HCC-SE?

I vision for HCC Southeast is to build better community relationships. To get closer to community members and interact with them professionally – to help them understand that we can work together to let students know that HCC SE offers great courses for the jobs of the future – careers – jointly, we need to start exposing young community students starting in   elementary. We, HCC SE is the vehicle to careers in science and manufacturing, certifications from welding to nursing, and these jobs lead to strong economic development. We must also help all students understand the value of an education. We need to give them an opportunity and show them the benefits of HCC community colleges – cheaper and with great courses for career and university pathways. 

3. What are your two main goals for this year?

My first goal is to build stronger and closer Pre-K-12 relationships with the surrounding elementary and secondary schools.  

My second specific goal is to work closely and interact frequently with community-based organizations -like Ripley House – The Houston Food Bank and others – to provide resources and support to our students including mental health resources.

4. What is your strategic plan to address the 70% dropout rate?

Not sure what the specific drop-out rate for this campus; however, we do need to help all students remain as students at HCC SE by helping them persist and support them with our great teaching staff and resources.

We need to be innovative and learn from other community colleges across the country. Some are successful with – 10-week classes – 6 weeks classes – and Weekend Colleges – as oppose to the rigorous 16 – week classes to receive credit.

We need to customize learning for those students who work and can only attend classes in the evening or on the weekends.

In addition, we will connect resources to potential drop outs by providing (wrap-around) support services. This is a priority. Also, I will put HCC SE advisors in our area high schools to meet and assist individually with students.

5. What is your strategic plan to increase certifications in the nursing program?

The first step to address this issue is to Increase awareness – let potential nursing or medical field students know the different pathways. This starts in area high schools in the 9^th grade. We work closely with high school counselors to provide the correct information for medical or nursing prep courses. It is important to help meet the huge demand for bilingual nurses in our own medical center. This is an admirable and well-paying profession. But, again – awareness is the first step.

6. Any final words of wisdom?

I look forward to working with LULAC, community organizations, and HISD.

Tell our community – “Si Se Puede!” and “Be a Leader – Not a Follower”.

Thank you! for your time and service to our community,

Dr. Sergio Lira

Education Consultant, Que Onda Magazine writer.