Man convicted of killing 1, second victim pretended to be dead until they could crawl for help after shooting
With the convictions, Castro-Contreras faces possibly multiple life sentences plus an additional 40 years.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A 21-year-old Maryland man could spend the rest of his life in prison after he was found guilty of murdering Edvin Agustin Leon in 2022. The death is reportedly connected to the gang MS-13.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, a jury found Edgard Castro-Contreras guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder on Friday. Additionally, Castro-Contreras was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the shooting of a second victim, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.
With the convictions, Castro-Contreras faces possibly multiple life sentences plus an additional 40 years.
The charges stem from a reportedly MS-13 gang-related shooting that happened on Nov. 9, 2022.
That night, 20-year-old Edvin Agustin Leon and another victim were reportedly walked into a wooded area of Northwest Stream Valley Park in Gaithersburg. Agustin Leon and the second victim were both shot. While Agustin Leon was killed in the shooting, the second victim pretended to be dead before crawling through a quarter mile of park terrain and calling for help.
Investigators later connected the death shooting to MS-13 and determined two higher-ranking members provided weapons to lower-ranking members and directed them to shoot and kill Agustin Leon and the other victim.
Six people were arrested for the deadly shooting in 2023, but prosecutors say they believe Castro-Contreras is the one who fired the shots that killed Agustin Leon.
While a jury convicted Castro-Contreras, jurors were left hung in the case of co-defendant Sender Emanuel Godoy-Lemus. The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office says prosecutors will retry that case.
Another co-defendant, Brayan Bonilla-Andrade, previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. He faces the potential of two life sentences plus 20 years.
Two other co-defendants, Jonathan Videz Martinez and Carlo Yaque Del Cid, are awaiting trial on first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and related charges.
Castro-Contreras will be officially sentenced on Aug. 18.