Third Suspect Sought In Novato Teen Slaying; Gruesome New Details Surface
NOVATO (CBS SF) -- The Marin County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant Wednesday morning as they sought a third homicide suspect connected to last week's fatal shooting of a Novato teen as grim new details surfaced about the mutilation of the homicide victim with a machete.
Authorities posted a tweet shortly before 11 a.m. that sheriff's detectives had searched a home in San Mateo for the suspect -- identified as 19-year-old Javier Guevara, a known MS-13 gang member. No suspect was found, according to the Sheriff's office.
The office later tweeted out a photo of the suspect.
Guevara was described as "armed and dangerous" by authorities. Deputies have not ruled out the possibility that Guevara may have left the state or country.
Authorities announced the search for the additional homicide suspect as gruesome new details emerged regarding the case against two North Bay teenagers arrested for the killing of their Novato High School classmate, 17-year-old Edwin Ramirez.
17-year-old Juan Carlos Martinez-Henriquez and 16-year-old Edwin Guevara are charged with murder and attempted murder with special circumstances, according to the complaint. Neither will face the death penalty because they are minors, but they could be sentenced to life without parole.
The two teen suspects were arrested during a tactical raid last Thursday just blocks away from the school. Both were classmates of the victims. The two teens are being charged as adults. They were arraigned Wednesday.
Sources told KPIX 5 that one of the suspects used a machete in an attempt to chop off the hands and head of Guerra.
The new information sheds new light on the criminal complaint, which accuses Martinez-Henriquez of "intentionally cause permanent disability and disfigurement and deprivation of a limb, organ, and body member" of the victim.
Wednesday, one of the teenagers' attorneys acknowledged rumors that the homicide could be payback for a recent sexual assault.
"I just don't know anything about whether there was a sexual assault and if there was a retaliation for a prior sexual assault," said public defender Pedro Oliveros.
The only action taken in court Wednesday was a protective order filed for the teenager who was wounded in the attack, in which the prosecutor mentioned possible gang ties.
The outstanding suspect, Javier Guevara, is a relative of suspect Edwin Guevera.
"It charges him with first degree murder with special circumstances, and with mayhem and use of a deadly weapon, a machete," said prosecutor Dori Ahana.
No pleas were entered. The defendants are due back in court next Wednesday.
