Longmont police arrested suspected gang members who they believe beat and stabbed a 17-year-old boy to death, using bats, clubs and a samurai sword.
Martin Garcia was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen Saturday evening on the 200 block of 21st Avenue, following the attack involving several suspected members of the Norteños street gang.
Adam Mizones, 21, has been arrested for investigation of second degree murder and first degree assault, said Cmdr. Craig Earhart, of the Longmont police department.
A second suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile, has been arrested for investigation of second degree assault, Earhart said.
More suspects will likely be arrested and charged with crimes related to their roles in the attack, he said.
Mizones and the second suspect were the primary participants in the beating, Earhart said.
Between six and seven suspected gang members attacked Garcia as he got out of his car and was walking to a friend’s house across the street, Earhart said.
The suspects in their teens and early 20s arrived in two cars at about the same time as Garcia was crossing the street and struck the victim repeatedly with clubs, bats and a large knife or sword.
The suspects included a gang member who had earlier been beaten, possibly by the victim, Earhart said. The earlier beating was the likely motivation for the attack, he said.
Garcia’s family said although he had earlier been involved with the Sureño’s street gang, he had left the gang, Earhart said.
Several people saw the assault carried out by the Longmont Norteños, Earhart said. Witnesses identified most of the suspects involved in the attack, he said.
During a traffic stop Sunday at 10:45 p.m., authorities found a samurai sword in Mizones’ car. He was originally arrested on charges of carrying a concealed weapon.
Mizones is also being held in the Boulder County Jail on a probation violation warrant out of Arapahoe County. He was convicted of burglary in August in the county.
The second suspect is currently being held at the Boulder County Juvenile Detention Center.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
