Three men, suspected of being part of the Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua, were arrested in Summerville, South Carolina, in late February after being accused of shoplifting. However, further investigation revealed that one of the men, Edison Alejandro Ramiro Munoz, was allegedly involved in a double homicide in Chicago in January.
Shoplifting Arrest Leads to Discovery of Homicide Connection
On February 27, Summerville police apprehended Munoz, Alejandro J. Miranda Rodriguez, and Yosveni Miched Parra Quinonez for shoplifting at the Palmetto State Armory on East Fifth North Street. After their arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) looked into the men’s backgrounds, which led them to uncover Munoz’s connection to a brutal double homicide in Chicago.
According to Deputy Chief Christopher Hirsch, investigators discovered that Munoz, 29, was one of the primary suspects in a double homicide and other violent crimes in Chicago. These crimes included attempted murder and the kidnapping of three migrant women.
The Chicago Double Homicide Case
On January 27, Munoz and Ricardo Gonzalez Leon, 31, reportedly abducted three women from a shelter in Chicago. They took the victims to an apartment on West Van Buren Street, where they locked them in a room under armed guard, threatening to kill them.
The following day, the women were forced into a red Toyota and driven to another location on South Oglesby Avenue. Surveillance footage showed Munoz leaving the vehicle with a handgun and dragging one of the women out of the car. Munoz then allegedly shot 31-year-old woman multiple times, while other men involved shot Orlana Rodriguez, 37, and Yeris Castillo, 40, leaving them to die.
The surviving woman was found by the police and taken to a Chicago hospital, but Rodriguez and Castillo died from their injuries.
Munoz Faces Multiple Charges
After the investigation, Munoz was extradited to South Carolina from Chicago and now faces two counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated armed kidnapping, and three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint.
Interestingly, Summerville police also reported that the hat Munoz was allegedly seen wearing during the Chicago murders was found on him when he was arrested in Summerville, further linking him to the crime.
Law Enforcement’s Efforts in Summerville
Summerville Police Chief Douglas Wright praised the investigative work of his team, stating, “I am proud of the diligence of the members of Team 6, who apprehended Gabriel Edison Romero during the commission of his crimes here in Summerville.” Wright emphasized that the arrest of Munoz was a crucial step in bringing justice to the victims’ families in Chicago, offering some closure to the surviving woman and the victims’ families.
The arrests of these men in Summerville have revealed a far darker connection to a violent crime in Chicago. While they were initially detained for shoplifting, the subsequent investigation has uncovered a web of serious criminal activity linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. The case highlights the critical role of local, state, and federal agencies working together to apprehend dangerous individuals and bring them to justice.
