Terrifying twist as Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is linked to the rape and murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray
Texas authorities are investigating a link between two illegal immigrants charged with raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl and the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Two suspects - Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26 - were charged in June with the brutal killing of Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, in Houston.
Police have revealed the pair, who were in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela, allegedly lured Jocelyn under a bridge, where they held her for more than two hours, possibly gang-raping her after they tied her up.
And in new search warrants, investigators revealed Rangel and Ramos displayed signs and monikers on their social media that are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.
Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found raped and murdered near her home in Houston, Texas, in June
Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, was one of two illegal immigrants charged with Nungaray's death, as investigators are probing a potential link to the Tren de Aragua gang
The Tren de Aragua gang has been thrust into the spotlight as the migrant crisis has fueled fears that gang members have snuck across the southern border and have set up bases in US cities.
In recent months, this has seen footage emerge of armed gangsters taking over an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, sparking outrage in the community.
Following the arrest of Rangel and Ramos, investigators wrote in the most recent warrants that Tren de Aragua 'will use certain slang and emojis in their communications with one another to identify themselves.'
The warrants led a judge to grant a request from the Houston Police Department to obtain social media records that could verify the suspect's gang affiliations, which could bolster the case against them, reports Newsweek.
The signs related to the gang reportedly include specific hand signs, wearing Chicago Bulls or Michael Jordan merchandise, and small shoulder tattoos such as clocks, trains, roses and two stars.
On social media, members use emojis including a ninja, crossed swords and a classical building to signal to others that they are part of the gang.
On TikTok, Ramos reportedly shared photos of his tattoos to followers, including a rose on his hand and two stars on each shoulder.
The arrests of Rangel (pictured) and Ramos back in June sparked outrage as ICE revealed that they had entered the US illegally
Cops say the suspects may have shared possible Tren de Aragua signs on social media, which include specific hand signs, wearing Chicago Bulls or Michael Jordan merchandise, and small shoulder tattoos such as clocks, trains, roses and two stars
Nungaray's body was found near her Houston home after she snuck out late at night
The arrests of Rangel and Ramos back in June sparked outrage as ICE revealed that they had entered the US illegally, at a time when millions of undocumented migrants were flooding over the southern border.
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