Authorities arrested a man accused of the kidnapping and murder of Venezuelan José Luis Sánchez, 43. The alleged criminal was identified as 23 years old, Yurwin Salazar Maita.
🚨 SEEKING INFORMATION: On 11/28/23, Jose Luis Sanchez Valera was killed in the area of NW 28 Street and NW 37 Avenue. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477. All calls are kept strictly anonymous. pic.twitter.com/lpvU9AuXQC
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) December 4, 2023
Salazar Maita was arraigned on Wednesday and it was learned that he will face charges of first-degree murder, armed home invasion, car theft and kidnapping. According to Univisión, at the hearing, it was also reported that Salazar belongs to the Tren de Aragua, the largest and most dangerous criminal organization in the South American country.
"Yurwin Salazar appeared in a Miami-Dade court this Wednesday where a judge denied him the right to bail on the charge of first-degree murder. During the hearing, the judge also said that Yurwin Salazar belongs to the Venezuelan criminal organization, Tren de Aragua," explained Univisión.
The information that he belongs to the Tren de Aragua was also confirmed, according to Univisión, by the victim's relatives. Emily Yánez, niece of the murdered man, said that one of the men who participated in the murder of her uncle said that they are part of the criminal group.
The Aragua train
Tren de Aragua is the largest criminal organization in Venezuela, with more than 2,700 members. It is also the first Venezuelan criminal organization to expand internationally; It has a presence in Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama, Costa Rica and Chile. And now also in the United States.
The murder of José Luis Sánchez
José Luis Sánchez was found suffocated in his vehicle on Tuesday, November 28, in the morning hours. The man lived in Doral and was kidnapped for three hours by several men who got out of a silver car and took him away in their truck. That morning two men invaded Sánchez's residence and asked his relatives to hand over all valuables. In the morning they found the lifeless body of José Luis Sánchez.
"He was gagged, beaten and apparently already asphyxiated," said Emily Yánez, the victim's niece, in statements reported by Univisión.
