A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 52 years for his role in a gang-related shooting that left one victim dead and another injured in Silver Spring in 2022.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Theresa Chernosky delivered the sentence to Edgard Castro-Contreras on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, in connection with the November 2022 shooting of 20-year-old Edvin Agustin Leon.
Castro-Contreras was convicted in April after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in Leon’s death, along with other charges connected to the shooting of another victim, Alex Castro Sabrian, who was injured but survived.
During the trial, it was revealed that Castro-Contreras had also been convicted of attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and two firearm offenses stemming from the attack on Castro Sabrian.
The shooting occurred on November 9, 2022, when both victims were approached by members of the notorious MS-13 gang, which Castro Sabrian would later identify as having included Castro-Contreras.
The police investigation, aided by the FBI, indicated that the victims were targeted due to allegations of gang activity, and were subsequently taken to a wooded area near 9074 Piney Branch Road in Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park.
In this secluded location, the gang members robbed the victims before opening fire. Agustin Leon was shot and killed, while Castro Sabrian was shot multiple times but managed to escape by pretending to be dead.
Castro Sabrian crawled for a quarter of a mile, seeking help, which led neighbors to contact 911. He survived the harrowing encounter, which police classified as a premeditated assault ordered by higher-ranking gang members.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, they believe Castro-Contreras was the individual who fatally shot Agustin Leon.
Several co-defendants also connected to the shooting are facing legal proceedings. Sender Emanuel Godoy-Lemus, who was tried alongside Castro-Contreras, encountered a hung jury in April and is set to be retried on May 26, 2026.
Brayan Bonilla-Andrade, another co-defendant, entered a guilty plea to multiple charges, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder. He faces the possibility of two life sentences plus an additional 20 years of incarceration.
Meanwhile, two other alleged accomplices, Jonathan Videz Martinez and Carlo Yaque Del Cid, are awaiting trial, scheduled for February 27, on charges related to first-degree murder and other offenses.
Details regarding the ages and residences of Castro Sabrian, Godoy-Lemus, Videz Martinez, Yaque Del Cid, and Bonilla-Andrade were not disclosed in the available documents.
This case is a stark reminder of the urgent issues surrounding gang violence in communities, as well as the significant legal repercussions that come with such criminal activity.
image source from：bethesdamagazine
