Six alleged MS-13 members indicted in Lawrence slaying

Six people who were allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Lawrence High School student Harold B. Sermeno in the back of the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence on Dec. 18, were indicted ny a Nassau County grand jury on April 4.

All six are Far Rockaway residents and are believed to be members of the MS-13 street gang. The indictment charges Carlos Guerra, 18, and Yonathan Sanchez, 22, with several felonies. Both are also charged in connection with the alleged murder of Ian Michael Cruz in Bayswater State, also in Far Rockaway, on Dec. 16.

Mineola-based lawyer Jeffrey Groder who represents Guerra said,” I was just assigned to the case and it’s a little early in my investigation to have a reaction." Groder became Sanchez’s lawyer on April 8.

In December, the Queens District Attorney’s office charged Elmer Guttierez, 18, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. A 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, not identified, are charged with murder second-degree and criminal possession of a weapon. The sixth person is yet to be identified. The remainder of the indictment is expected to be unveiled in the near future.

Sermeno was identified as a Lawrence High School student who was suspended at the time and was being home-schooled at the center. He is believed to have been a member of the Latin Kings gang.

Cruz, according to NYPD, was found unconscious at 11:58 a.m. that Sunday shot multiple times. Sermeno, 17, was found behind the community center also shot multiple times. Police believe that both young men were enticed by the promise of sex.

Both Guerra and Sanchez are in custody. Their next court date is May 2.