A couple and another man linked to the El Salvadoran gang MS-13 carried out a machete and knife attack that killed a man and wounded his girlfriend nearly seven years ago at a Lake Forest apartment complex, a prosecutor told jurors Thursday.
Jose Rafael Andrade Membreno, 29, and Xiomara Elizabeth Berrios, 24, are both charged in the Oct. 1, 2018, killing of Marco Morales and the assault on his girlfriend, Jessica Rodriguez, Deputy District Attorney Richard Majchrzak said in his opening statement.
A third defendant, Edwin Francisco Diaz, 25, is scheduled to be tried separately at a later date.
Defense attorneys for Membreno and Berrios — Paul Rogers and Lisa Leversen — deferred their opening statements Thursday.
Membreno and Berrios, who were dating at the time, lived in the same Forest Glen Apartments as Morales and Rodriguez, who were also a couple.
The trouble began when Morales sold a .22-caliber rifle to a teenager, Jose Henriquez, who angered Morales when he “paraded” the weapon on social media, Majchrzak said.
“Morales didn’t like that … and he took the rifle back,” the prosecutor said.
Morales whacked the teen over the head with the rifle and didn’t give the boy his money back, Majchrzak said.
Henriquez told Membreno what happened, allegedly sparking the conspiracy to kill Morales, the prosecutor said.
Majchrzak said investigators later found Facebook Messenger data showing the suspects discussing the plan.
On the night of the attack, Morales and Rodriguez were in the apartment complex’s jacuzzi area around 2 a.m. when the suspects coordinated the assault via text messages, Majchrzak said.
Berrios allegedly sent a message at 2:46 a.m., saying “Let’s kill him,” with Membreno responding, “Let’s go then,” Majchrzak said.
The attackers hid behind a hedge before they pulled out knives and “rushed the jacuzzi area,” Majchrzak said.
According to the prosecutor, Morales shielded himself with a patio chair before running through the complex shouting for help while Berrios stayed behind and stabbed at Rodriguez.
One of the residents told police he heard a loud banging on the wall that awakened him about 3:15 a.m. but went back to sleep. Morales’ body was found around 5:40 a.m., and he had been nearly decapitated, according to court documents. Rodriguez suffered cuts to her upper chest, the prosecutor said.
A gang expert is expected to testify that the suspects’ ties to MS-13 partly motivated the attack, Majchrzak said.
“Everything is about… respect” with the gang, the prosecutor said.
Membreno, the prosecutor alleged, has been in the gang since he was 16.
“Anyone who disrespects MS-13 will be killed,” the prosecutor said.
Morales’ DNA was found on Membreno’s bloodied jeans, Majchrzak said.
Membreno and Berrios are charged with murder with a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait for the victim and conspiracy to commit murder. He also faces sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon. Berrios is also charged with criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon.