By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Deputies arrested a known MS-13 gang member wanted in a triple homicide in California this morning at a home on Airport Road.
Wilfredo “Flaco” Reyes, 31, and his friend Jose Antonio Mejia, 25, were taken into custody by federal and local officers about 10:30 a.m.
Detectives from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, the Special Response Team, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent and investigators from the San Francisco Homicide Division raided the home.
An ICE agent notified deputies on Sunday that Reyes might be inside the home.
Deputies watched the home for about 24 hours for the suspect’s car, a Toyota Camry.
Officers entered the home Monday after receiving information Reyes could be in the home.
According to the report, Reyes tried to jump out of a window in the home when investigators went to the address.
But the 31-year-old was “discouraged by detectives,” and was quickly taken into custody.
Mejia, an undocumented immigrant, was also arrested at the home and charged with felony harboring a fugitive, felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Detectives said also they found a .32 caliber handgun in the residence.
Mejia, also a known MS-13 member, was placed under an ICE detainer without bond.
Reyes is also being held without bond while he awaits extradition back to California.
A jury convicted Reyes’ accused accomplice, Edwin Ramos, 25, of three counts of murder and a single count of attempted murder on May 9.
Detectives said Ramos opened fire on a car carrying 48-year-old Tony Bologna and his three sons — Michael, 20, Matthew 16, and Andrew in June 2008.
Prosecutors said Ramos was seeking revenge for the shooting death of a fellow MS-13 member earlier that day.
Only Andrew survived.
During Ramos’ testimony, he said he was only the driver and didn’t realized his passenger, Reyes, was going to begin firing at the vehicle.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.