Illegal still being held in shootings

The illegal immigrant accused of shooting at passing vehicles in west Philadelphia in August remains in custody.

The man, Fredy Antonio Amaya-Marin, 39, still faces eight counts of attempted murder.

Amaya-Marin also potentially faces several federal charges, including illegal re-entry after deportation and illegal alien in possession of a firearm, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons.

Lyons said Amaya-Marin will remain in the Leake County Detention Center until his trial.

According to Lyons, a trial date has not been set. He said he did not know when Amaya-Marin would face trial and that it could be up to a year from now.

“Hopefully, it will not take that long,” he said.

Neshoba County District Attorney Steven Kilgore must present Amaya-Marin’s case to a grand jury to seek an indictment.

Lyons said the local crimes would be pursued before any federal agency like Immigration and Customs Enforcement pursues charges or deports Amaya-Marin.

“More than likely, he will never get out if he’s found guilty on all counts, but if he is ever released, he will be immediately deported,” Lyons said. “He will never be released back into the public of the U.S.”

Amaya-Marin was arrested at 288 Alford Avenue at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.  Alford Avenue runs between Beacon and Main near the Hondumex Authentic Mexican Restaurant.

A Salvadoran man here illegally and believed to be part of the violent MS-13 gang, Amaya-Marin worked at the Old Mexico Restaurant near the railroad.

Since the sniper shootings, there have been reports of other illegals connected to Amaya-Marin being in Neshoba County and housed at compounds near Tucker and Laurel Hill. 

Police say about 15 vehicles were struck with bullets in the August shootings, three of which left individuals injured.

Lyons said he may be responsible for shooting out windows at the public library discovered on Aug. 27 and other possible incidents.

Lyons said investigators have questioned Amaya-Martin and said he has denied any involvement in the shootings.

Investigators determined that Amaya-Marin purchased ammunition at a local gun dealer and also attempted to purchase an AR-15 days prior to the shootings. Lyons said he was denied purchase of that weapon and only purchased the ammunition.  

“We believe that he had intentions on carrying out more attacks throughout the city if he were allowed to purchase the rifle,” Lyons said.

According to Sheriff Eric Clark, Amaya-Marin was arrested on Sept. 28 of last year during a traffic stop on Gum Street, where he was found to be impaired and had a misdemeanor amount of a controlled substance in his possession. He was subsequently charged with DUI and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Clark said Amaya-Marin was released on March 28 because he had served his time on the initial charges under the false name.

He was booked here last September under the name Jonathan Salvador, 38, of 5317 Hoadley Street in Brighton, Alabama. Clark said that was the same name he would give PPD at the time of his arrest in the sniper shootings.

Clark said the sniper arrest exposed the need for an update in their fingerprint identification system — an issue his office quickly addressed at the time it was discovered.