Five members of the 'Murder Squad' gang who hunted California residents for sport were just sentenced to a combined 161 years for killing 11 people.
The gang members were charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
Between 2015 and 2018, 11 people were killed, and another 17 were shot.
More than a dozen "hunts" were organized to track and shoot Salinas residents who they believed to be rival gang members for reasons as vague as whether they were Hispanic, bald, or wearing rival gang colors, according to KSBW.
Most of the victims were not affiliated with any gangs, and others were caught in the crossfire.
The murders began when squad members gathered to commemorate a recently deceased friend or loved one and then hunted in their memory.
Body count was a way to increase status and prestige within the group.
"The 'Murder Squad' killed for sport, terrorizing the city of Salinas and forever altering the lives of so many innocent members of our community," said US Attorney Ismail Ramsey.
"As described in the court filings, their conduct is reprehensible. Thanks to the strong collaboration between federal and state law enforcement over the course of many years, these men will rightfully spend the next few decades of their lives in prison."
They methodically planned the process by using military tactics—for instance, the security/spotter vehicles would patrol the streets, searching for potential targets. Once a target or targets were spotted, the security/spotter vehicle would transmit the location so that the shooters in the shooter vehicle could drive up, exit, fire at the victims until their magazines were empty, and speed away, said the US District Attorney's Office.
All five defendants, ranging from ages 37 to 27, pleaded guilty in May 2024.
