Burien, WA — Two men were arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including kidnapping and attempted murder, after a harrowing incident involving the abduction and shooting of a 58-year-old woman in Washington state. The suspects are alleged to have connections to a violent Venezuelan gang with a growing presence in the U.S., highlighting troubling international criminal ties.
King County prosecutors identified the accused as 24-year-old Kevin Daniel Sanabria Ojeda and 25-year-old Alexander Moises Arnaez-Gutierrez. Both face serious charges stemming from the January incident, which began outside the victim’s apartment in Burien and ended in a remote area along Interstate 90.
According to authorities, the victim was forcibly pulled into a vehicle and driven towards the Cascade Mountains while the perpetrators attempted to extort her personal and financial information. The assailants resorted to brutal tactics, including using a power drill on the woman’s hand, in an effort to gain access to her cell phone and bank accounts. Threats escalated as they told the woman they would kill her and dispose of her body in the wilderness.
The situation reached a critical point when the woman was shot and left for dead in Kittitas County. Believing the gunshot had killed her, the suspects left the scene. The victim, however, survived the attack, waited until it was safe, and then sought help from a passing motorist. She was quickly taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she later recounted the ordeal to detectives, noting that her attackers seemed to believe they had fatally shot her in the head, though she was actually hit in the shoulder.
The case expanded beyond state lines. With the assistance of the FBI, King County Sheriff’s Office investigators located Sanabria in Illinois, mere days after the attack. A search of his motel room led to the recovery of jewelry stolen from the victim. Upon arrest, Sanabria confessed to his role in the crime but pleaded not guilty in court proceedings.
Co-defendant Arnaez-Gutierrez was apprehended during a routine traffic stop conducted by Mercer Island police. His arraignment is scheduled for April 24. The involvement of these suspects has drawn attention to potential links with the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, known for its ruthless activities in Venezuela and increasingly, in the United States.
While confirming a direct connection to the gang has not yet been achieved, the nature and violence of the crime suggest it could be part of a larger pattern of organized criminal activity reaching into Washington state. This case has put communities on high alert and has law enforcement advocating for caution regarding the network’s reach and impact.
Both Sanabria Ojeda and Arnaez-Gutierrez are currently being held on $1 million bail each, reflecting the seriousness of the charges and the perceived threat they pose to public safety. Moreover, there is an ongoing investigation into a third suspect, known only as “Daniel,” further indicating that this incident may involve a broader criminal conspiracy.
This case underscores the challenges posed by international criminal organizations and the often horrific crimes associated with their operations on U.S. soil. As the legal process unfolds, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that might be related to such groups.