‘Dismembered, heart cut out’: MS-13 gang members charged in Los Angeles over string of grisly killings
- Case focuses on particularly violent subgroup known as the Fulton clique, which operates in the Los Angeles area
- Indictment against 22 suspects says most of those charged took part in seven killings carried out with machetes, knives and baseball bats over last two years
Several members of the notorious MS-13 gang have been charged in Los Angeles for their role in multiple grisly murders, including the machete killing of a rival gang member who was dismembered and had his heart cut out.
According to a 12-count indictment against 22 members of the gang unsealed on Tuesday, most of those charged took part in seven killings carried out with machetes, knives and baseball bats over the last two years.
Most of the bodies were dumped in the Angeles National Forest, northeast of Los Angeles.
The sweeping indictment focuses on a particularly violent subgroup of the gang known as the Fulton clique, which operates in the Los Angeles area and has recently been recruiting young immigrants from Central America.
We have now taken off the streets nearly two dozen people associated with the most violent arm of MS-13 in Los Angeles
Authorities said as part of their initiation, potential recruits had to kill an MS-13 rival or someone perceived as a threat to join the gang.