Edgard Castro-Contreras was sentenced Monday to life in prison plus 52 years following his conviction in the execution style murder of Edvin Agustin Leon, 20.
Castro-Contreras, 21, of Adelphi, was convicted by a jury on April 4 on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He also was convicted of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the shooting of a second victim, as well as two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.
The charges stem from a Nov. 9, 2022 crime in which victims were targeted in a gang-related shooting, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office for Montgomery County.
Murder in the Woods
Edgard Castro-Contreras
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 Gaithersburg. Leon was shot and killed. The second victim was shot multiple times but survived by pretending to be dead. He then crawled about a quarter of a mile in the park and cried for help, according to State’s Attorney’s Office.
Neighbors heard his cries and called 911.
Montgomery County Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation soon learned that the shootings were related to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) criminal gang. According to an investigation, two higher-ranked members of MS-13 provided the weapons to three other members and directed them to shoot and kill the two victims.
According to the investigation, Castro-Contreas is believed to have fired the shots that killed Leon.
Accomplices’ Fate
Also on April 4, the jury hung in the case of Castro-Contreras’ co-defendant, Sender Emanuel Godoy-Lemus. He will be retried on May 26, 2026.
Another co-defendant, Brayan Bonilla-Andrade, 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.
There are two additional co-defendants. Jonathan Videz Martinez and Carlo Yaque Del Cid are expected to be tried on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder on Feb. 27, 2026.
photo courtesy: Voice of America
