10/09/2026
SALVADORAN MAN SENTENCED FOR DOUBLE HOMICIDE
LEESBURG, Virginia – October 8, 2026. Marlyn Samuel Medrano Ortiz, 20, appeared before the Loudoun County Circuit Court for sentencing on two counts of 2nd Degree Murder. The Honorable James P. Fisher sentenced Medrano Ortiz to serve an active period of incarceration of 30 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections. Medrano Ortiz is also required to pay restitution to the Virginia Victims Fund and to maintain no contact with any known member of a street gang.
On August 28, 2024, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call for a suspicious person in Sterling near the 21000 block of Huntington Square. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a male and female victim with apparent gunshot wounds. The male was later identified as Diego Woollett and the female as Mijal Conejero. Both were transported to the hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted an exhaustive investigation and developed a timeline of events that led up to the shooting of Woollett and Conejero.
Throughout the night of August 27th and early morning hours of the 28th, Woollett and Conejero were driving around the apartment complex where they both lived.
A neighbor was awakened by incessant car honking outside their window. They remained awake and watchful as the unusual early morning disturbance continued in the parking lot outside the window. A short time after the neighbor was awakened by the honking, they heard yelling around the location of the picnic table in the parking lot and then observed Woollett and Conejero walking into the apartment complex.
Several MS-13 gang members in the Villa Satelite clique, including Medrano Ortiz, were seated at the table in the picnic area of the parking lot.
At approximately 4:20 a.m., Woollett and Conejero departed their apartment, drove to a nearby gas station, and returned to their apartment. Shortly thereafter, Woollett and Conejero were observed leaving their apartment walking towards the picnic area in the parking lot of the apartment complex when several gunshots rang out.
It was determined that Medrano Ortiz left the picnic table to confront Woollett and Conejero when he saw them approaching. Medrano Ortiz claimed that a physical altercation broke out during which Woollett punched him and he was tased by Conejero. In retaliation, Medrano Ortiz shot them both at close range.
Detectives located a kitchen knife, stun-gun, and a folding knife with a pistol shaped handle in close proximity of where Woollett and Conejero were found.
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney determined that Medrano Ortiz’s use of deadly force was not justified or excused under any applicable self-defense principles.
“This is a senseless tragedy that leaves two families grieving their loved ones; two young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. Members of gangs who think violence can be committed against the members of our community are put on notice: this is not tolerated in Loudoun County,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson.
During the sentencing hearing, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Boyle argued for a sentence well above the recommended guidelines due to the brutality of Medrano Ortiz’s actions saying, “these are two people that meant the world to their loved ones, and they’re gone by the hands of the defendant not for any reason other then he was angry … the Defendant must be punished for taking two lives for no reason that night … when the opportunity presented itself, he did exactly what he said he would do … this was not a young man swept up in the moment … he created the moment. … a message must be clearly established that this type of violence will not be tolerated … we ask the Court to impose 80 years.” Boyle also noted a rap song recorded in the hours before the killings made by Medrano Ortiz with 2 other members of MS-13 that included the lyrics of “we control the villa of Sterling. If you stay here, the beast will take you.”
The punishment range recommended by the Virginia Sentencing Guidelines was 15 years and 5 months to 25 years and 9 months.
Before he pronounced Medrano Ortiz’s sentence, Judge Fisher said, “the level of violence was shocking … I do not believe you were in danger or thought you were in danger.”
Medrano Ortiz was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 80 years, with 50 years suspended. The suspended sentence is conditioned upon the satisfactory completion of 5 years of probation.
Full release: https://www.loudoun.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/10926
