Huntington MS-13 Gang Arrests for Brutal Assault on Teen

By Rupert Deedes

In a brutal attack, a 15-year old boy was attacked and seriously injured in January by gang members of the HCLS (the Huntington Criminal Locates Salvatrucha), a part of the MS-13 violent street gang.

Seven members of HCLS were indicted by the Suffolk DA, accused of robbing, kidnapping, and assault of the teenage victim.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said that a minor affiliated with the gang persuaded the 15-year old to accompany him to the Huntington Train Station.

At the LIRR station, five of co-defendants -- Josue Zepeda Padilla, 26, of Huntington; Brayan Jimenez Avila, 23, of Huntington; Yeison Chavez Campos, 21, of Huntington; Maycoll Ramirez Cerrato, 18, of Huntington; and Marcos Serpos, 19, also of Huntington -- surrounded the 15-year old and threatened to kill him with a knife.

The gang took his money and cellphone and dragged him to a waiting car, driven by Maybelline Garcia Cornejo, 22, of Seaford -- all the while beating, kicking, and punching him.

They gang then drove the victim to the abandoned Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood, and entered an abandoned building through a hole in the wall. Once inside, Zepeda Padilla stabbed the teen victim in the neck.

Another assailant forcefully hit the boy in the head with a rock, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his skull.

The attackers then fled the scene.

The 15-year old victim regained consciousness, managed to get out of the building, and stumbled down the road until he collapsed.

Motorists who drove by noticed him and rushed him to the hospital, where he had to be operated on to stitch the cut in his neck. He also had to undergo craniotomy to treat a brain bleed and fractured skull.

The minor who lured the 15-year old to the Huntington Train Station was indicted for one count of first-degree robbery; two counts of second-degree robbery; and one count of fourth-degree criminal facilitation.

The six other defendants were each indicted on one count of first-degree robbery; one count of first-degree gang assault; one count of first-degree assault; one count of second-degree kidnapping; one count of first-degree attempted assault; one count of second-degree gang assault; three counts of second-degree robbery; and two counts of second-degree assault.

DA Tierney noted that Zepeda Padilla remains at large, and urged anyone with information about Zepeda Padilla's whereabouts to contact the Suffolk County Police Department or Crime Stoppers at: 1-800-220-TIPS.