On Friday, Sept. 8th, police arrested Nelson Noel Ventura as the second suspect in the Sept. 1st beating death of Luis R. Jovel, 27, of Silver Spring.
Ventura, 22, of Hyattsville, was taken into custody in Dale City, Virginia, by Prince William County Police, accompanied by Takoma Park Police investigators. The other suspect, Jose Danis Ramos, 27, of Silver Spring was arrested Sept. 1 by Takoma Park Police.
Two Montgomery County patrol officers were approached shortly after midnight last Friday by a citizen who reported a man was being beaten nearby in the 1000 block of University Blvd. E. The responding officers witnessed a perpetrator beating a victim and then running to a waiting car. The officers blocked in the vehicle and three suspects fled on foot.
One officer remained with the victim while the other chased one suspect. Takoma Park Police patrol officers joined the pursuit and Ramos was taken into custody at that time. The victim was taken to Washington Hospital Center where he died late Friday afternoon.
Takoma Park investigators obtained a warrant against Ventura on charges of first degree murder earlier this week. Assisting in today’s arrest were Montgomery County Police and U.S. Marshals.
Both suspects and the victim are believed to have ties with the gang MS13. Ventura is being held at the Prince William Adult Detention Center in Manassas pending extradition. Ramos is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center without bail.
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Carol A. Bannerman
Police Affairs Specialist
301.891.7142