News Summary
Herlyn Barrientos, known as ‘Doctorazo,’ was shot in a grocery store parking lot after cooperating with the FBI on MS-13 gang activities. Just hours before his murder, he warned the FBI about a threat to his life. His assassination highlights the dangerous consequences faced by informants and the pervasive influence of gang violence in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, CA – Herlyn Barrientos, also known as “Doctorazo,” was killed in a grocery store parking lot on February 18, 2023, following his cooperation with the FBI regarding drug trafficking activities connected to the MS-13 gang. Barrientos was previously charged with drug trafficking in 2023 and provided vital information to federal authorities about the gang’s operations, which included supplying methamphetamine to MS-13 members in Los Angeles and channeling profits to the gang’s incarcerated leader.
Despite his cooperation being widely publicized, Barrientos was released from jail and returned to his home in South Los Angeles. His actions ultimately led to a death order from MS-13 leaders. Just hours before his murder, Barrientos alerted an FBI agent about a man with a gun who had been following him. Tragically, while he was on the phone with the agent seeking assistance, he was shot to death.
Surveillance footage revealed a disturbing sequence of events leading up to Barrientos’ murder. He drove to a Superior Grocers located at the intersection of Figueroa and 91st streets, where he was followed by three men into the parking lot. One of the suspected assailants, Roberto Carlos Aguilar, spent approximately 30 minutes talking with Barrientos before the shooting occurred. As this interaction unfolded, another confirmed MS-13 member, Dennis Anaya Urias, was tracked in the vicinity of the grocery store, indicating organized gang activity in the area at the time.
Just before his murder, Barrientos attempted to call for help after an assailant, dressed in black clothing and with their face obscured, attempted to shoot him within the grocery store. He communicated critical information to emergency services about the threat he was facing at that moment. However, shortly thereafter, the FBI agent listening to Barrientos on the line heard gunfire, confirming the violent outcome of the situation.
A month following Barrientos’ assassination, law enforcement discovered a burned Honda CR-V, suspected to have been used in the murder, in North Hollywood. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Urias, who allegedly confessed to a fellow inmate that the order for Barrientos’ killing originated from high-ranking members of MS-13. Urias and another gang member, Grevil Zelaya Santiago, were accused of executing the murder based on Aguilar’s directives.
All three defendants charged in connection with Barrientos’ murder are currently pleading not guilty to the charges of murder in aid of racketeering. The extents of MS-13’s influence and violent response to perceived betrayals within its ranks highlight the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating gang-related crime in the Los Angeles area.
The death of Barrientos serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by individuals who cooperate with federal law enforcement against gangs, illustrating the violent repercussions that can ensue from such decisions. As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to dismantle the operations of MS-13 and enhance the safety and security of the communities affected by gang violence.
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