New Bedford Latin King Who Shot Rival Gang Member Sentenced
A member of the New Bedford chapter of the Latin Kings was sentenced Tuesday in federal court on racketeering charges after he shot a rival gang member in the back.
Emanuel Lopez-Velez, a.k.a. “King Manny,” 22, was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty in August 2020 to RICO conspiracy charges.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lopez-Velez admitted that on Sept. 30, 2019, he was one of multiple members of the Latin Kings who confronted and robbed rival gang members with a firearm provided by a fellow Latin King.
Lopez-Velez and his fellow gang members approached one of the rival gang members, surrounded him, pointed a firearm at him and demanded his phone. The victim ran, and Lopez-Velez chased him, firing one shot which struck the victim in the back.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated and he survived the shooting.