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April 25, 2019 By Christian Murray
Three reputed members of the Latin Kings street gang were convicted Wednesday for the brutal beating of a rival gang member outside a Jackson Heights bar in 2016.
Michael Aragundi, 21, of Jamaica, Luis Mayancela, 23, of Astoria, and Luis Minchala, 28, of Jackson Heights, were convicted by a jury of first-degree gang assault, two counts of first-degree robbery and a slew of other charges, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
According to court testimony, Aragundi and Mayancela attacked the 24-year-old victim outside of El Paisa bar at 87-05 Northern Blvd. shortly after 1 a.m. on Oct. 29, 2016. The victim was repeatedly punched and stabbed. In addition, one of the defendants beat the man with a cane.
Minchala was not involved in the attack but ordered the hit on the victim as the gang leader and watched to make sure the rival gang member was beaten.
After the attack, the defendants fled the scene leaving the victim bleeding in front of the bar. The wounded man, who had been stabbed a total of 11 times, was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries to his head, neck and other extremities.
Some of the lacerations penetrated the victim’s arm causing permanent nerve damage.
“The defendants cornered and attacked the victim in front of a bar. The victim sustained a series of severe stab wounds during the assault and continues to suffer from nerve damage as a result of the beating he endured,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney John M. Ryan. “The verdict reaffirms that gang violence is unacceptable.”
Minchala failed to show up to court during the closing arguments and is on the run. He is currently being sought as a fugitive by the NYPD’s Warrant Squad.
