MS-13 Member Charged In 2022 Murder, Gang Assault: Prosecutors

MINEOLA, NY — An alleged MS-13 gang member was indicted on murder charges for a killing last June in Uniondale and a gang assault for another murder in September, prosecutors said.

Gerson Hernandez, 21, of Uniondale, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree gang assault. He was remanded and is due back in court on June 6.

If convicted, Hernandez faces a potential maximum sentence of 40 years to life in prison, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

"In less than two months, Gerson Hernandez allegedly participated in the killings of two men in Uniondale and Hempstead, who were surrounded and slashed with knives after they had been shot," Donnelly said. "MS-13 has wreaked havoc across Long Island and taken too many lives. We will continue to dismantle this criminal operation one member at a time and ensure our communities are safe from the gang’s unspeakable violence."

On July 19, 2022, according to the indictment, Hernandez, along with two unapprehended co-defendants, identified and approached victim Walter Ochoa at a park in Uniondale. Ochoa was surrounded, one co-defendant shot him in the chest and Hernandez slashed the victim in the neck, Donnelly said.

On Sept. 14, 2022, Hernandez and an unapprehended co-defendant were involved in a dispute with two people outside a McDonald’s restaurant in Hempstead.

Hernandez allegedly saw a friend riding nearby on a bicycle. The friend, who is also unapprehended, then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim multiple times. The victim was then struck by another apprehended co-defendant with a large knife as he lay dying on the curb.

Donnelly said Hernandez and unapprehended co-defendants are alleged members of MS-13.