MS 13 gang member arrested for bus shooting of 14-year-old - WTOP

November 8, 2008 - 12:40pm

WASHINGTON -- Montgomery County Police arrested a gang-affiliated murder suspect Friday for the shooting death of 14-year-old Tai Lam who was killed after a spat on a bus near Silver Spring last week that also resulted in two other juveniles being shot.

Detectives arrested Hector Mauricio Hernandez, age 20, from Takoma Park, a member of the notorious MS 13 gang, Friday after obtaining an arrest warrant for first degree murder. Hernandez is being held without bond. The shooting remains under investigation and additional arrests are anticipated.

The arrest came after a week long investigation that began when police were called to a bus stop on Piney Branch Road at Arliss Street for a shooting that occurred last Saturday.

The investigation revealed that the incident occurred after a group of about a dozen friends, that included the three shooting victims, boarded the Ride On bus in downtown Silver Spring and engaged in a verbal exchange with another group of four or five male subjects who got on the bus at different locations. Police have yet to determine what was said.

"For unknown reasons," according to a Montgomery County police press release, when Hernandez got off with his group at Piney Branch Road, "he turned and fired a handgun from the area of the rear door of the bus into the bus striking the three teens."

All three victims were transported to area trauma centers. The two surviving victims, a 14-year-old male and a 15-year-old male, were released from the hospital and continue to recover from their injuries.

Detectives from the Homicide/Sex Section of the Major Crimes Division are still asking anyone with information regarding this crime to call 240-773-5070. Callers may remain anonymous.

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