Document Type

Report

Publication Date

8-2026

Abstract

On July 12, 2017, fifteen-year-old Josue Portillo was arrested on the conviction of four murders and one attempted murder which took place on April 11, 2017 in Central Islip, New York. During questioning, the teenager waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the murders on behalf of the gang MS-13. At the age of 15, Portillo murdered Justin Llivicura, Michael Lopez, Jorge Tigre, and Jefferson Villalobos. The victims were all members of MS-13's rival, the 18th Street gang. In exchange for the murders, Portillo was promised a promotion within MS-13, an opportunity to move up from the position of “Paro,” the lowest ranking type of member in MS-13. As part of MS-13's hierarchical structure, it is necessary to kill a member of a rival gang to be promoted. The victims chosen were 5 men that had previously had altercations with both Portillo and high-ranking members in the Leeward Locos Salvatruchas clique, a Long Island chapter of MS-13. Portillo understood that if he committed these murders, he would gain a promotion within MS-13's hierarchical structure while also eliminating the trouble that rival gang members were creating for MS-13 in the area.

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