Rockville, Md- In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, a jury found defendant Sender Godoy-Lemus, 22, of Silver Spring, guilty on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Edvin Agustin Leon. The defendant was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the shooting of a second victim, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and participation in a criminal organization resulting in death. The jury returned its verdict on June 18, 2026, after a three-and-a-half-week trial. The jury deliberated just shy of three days. The case was a re-trial following a hung jury last year.
Godoy-Lemus faces the potential of multiple life sentences when he is sentenced. The sentencing hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
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One of four co-defendants, Carlo Yaque del Cid, 32, of Hyattsville, was sentenced on June 17, 2026, to two consecutive life sentences plus an additional five years for his role in the shootings. In March of 2026, a jury found Yaque del Cid guilty on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Edvin Agustin Leon. The defendant was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the shooting of a second victim, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and participation in a criminal organization resulting in death.
This stems from a gang-related shooting on November 9, 2022. Edvin Agustin Leon and the second victim were walked into a wooded area of Northwest Stream Valley Park near the 9000 block of Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring by the defendant and multiple co-defendants. Agustin Leon was shot and killed. The second victim was shot multiple times but survived by pretending to be dead. He then crawled through a quarter mile of park terrain and cried for help. Neighbors called 911. Through the course of an investigation by Montgomery County Police, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)- Baltimore Field Office, detectives learned the homicide and shooting were related to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) criminal gang. They determined that two higher-ranked members of MS-13 provided firearms to three lower-ranked members and directed them to shoot and kill the two victims.
- Co-defendant Edgard Castro-Contreras was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 52 years. He had been convicted by a jury on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the death of Agustin Leon. Castro-Contreras was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the shooting of the surviving victim, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. The State believes Castro-Contreras fired the shots that killed Edvin Agustin Leon.
- Co-defendant Brayan Bonilla-Andrade has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. He faces the potential of two life sentences plus 20 years. His sentencing hearing is pending.
- Co-defendant Jonathan Videz Martinez is pending trial on first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and related charges.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca, Brian Rubinstein, and Gabriel Carrera are handling the prosecution of this matter. We are grateful for their commitment to seeking justice and for the comprehensive investigation and assistance from the Montgomery County Police Gang Investigation and Homicide Teams, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Maryland National Capital Park Police, and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
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Read the original article at mcsao