Marvin Lopez, aged 45, received a 50-year sentence for the murder of Evelyn Yamileth Arroyo Guerra, a crime dating back to Christmas Eve 2014. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detailed the conviction and the sentence handed down by Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe last Friday, as per the U.S. Department of Justice.
Guerra, a waitress, was arriving for her shift at El Sabor Latino located at 3910 14th Street NW when she was fatally shot. Officers, present nearby when the shooting occurred, embarked on an immediate pursuit. Despite their efforts, the assailant managed to escape into nearby woods. The investigation led swiftly to Lopez as the prime suspect, having previously threatened Guerra through Facebook messages, convincing with its detail. "Lopez was not located by police before he fled to El Salvador," as noted by the U.S. Department of Justice, eluding capture until his extradition and arrest in March of 2023.
The trial, unfolding over eight tense days in November 2023, saw prosecutors present evidence that painted a clear image of Lopez's guilt. Their efforts culminated in a sentence that also includes a concurrent seven-year prison term for possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Multiple members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office were essential in securing this outcome, with individuals such as Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin playing notable roles in the case's procession.
Alongside the law enforcement and legal professionals, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Natiello took charge of the investigation and indictment, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristian Hinson and Sarah Prins leading the charge throughout the prosecution's case.
