A high-ranking member of Venezuela’s notorious Tren De Aragua gang has been arrested in Georgia following a nationwide manhunt, federal authorities confirmed Friday. Ricardo Gonzales, 32, was taken into custody in Cobb County and now faces extradition to Chicago, where he is wanted in connection with a horrific triple shooting in January that left two women dead and another seriously injured.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Gonzales was located and arrested without incident. He was wanted by the Chicago Police Department on charges including kidnapping, two counts of first-degree murder, and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
Federal officials allege that Gonzales kidnapped three women on January 28 and drove them to a secluded alley in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. There, he reportedly shot all three in the head. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. One survived and managed to escape, later finding help by ringing the doorbell of a nearby home.
Yvette McKinney, who lives at the residence where the victim sought aid, said she was shocked by what she saw. “She was bleeding everywhere,” McKinney said. “She didn’t speak English, so she just kept saying, ‘Police. Police.’”
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, as captured by Ring doorbell footage. Sources said the women were found wearing only T-shirts and sweatpants despite freezing temperatures. One of the deceased victims was later identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner as 37-year-old Oriana Rodriguez.
Federal Crackdown on Tren De Aragua Gang
The arrest of Gonzales is part of a broader federal crackdown on the Tren De Aragua gang. In the last 48 hours, Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that 68 gang members had been apprehended nationwide. Among those arrested was Ricardo Padilla-Granadillo, another alleged gang member taken into custody in North Carolina, also believed to be linked to the January shooting.
“Tren de Aragua is a dangerous foreign terrorist organization that has invaded our soil,” said acting ICE director Todd Lyons. “Many of these members are cold-blooded killers, rapists, thieves, drug traffickers, weapons traffickers, and human traffickers. They are accused of the most heinous crimes committed inside our neighborhoods and communities.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in, stating: “This defendant’s crimes against American women are horrific, and he is exactly the type of Alien Enemy the Trump administration is fighting to remove from this country to make America safe again.”
Additional Arrests and Broader Operation
In addition to the Georgia and North Carolina operations, another suspected gang member was arrested in Matteson, a suburb south of Chicago, for drug and immigration violations. Authorities say these arrests reflect a multi-agency operation involving U.S. Marshals, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and local law enforcement.
Gonzales remains in custody at a Cobb County jail as he awaits transfer to Illinois, where he will face prosecution. Authorities have not released details on whether he has legal representation.
Community Reaction and Victim Support
In Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, the violent incident has left a deep scar. Residents like McKinney, who assisted the surviving victim, say the tragedy has shaken the community.
“We just wanted to make sure the young lady was okay. That was the main thing,” she said.
Local officials expressed relief over the arrest but acknowledged the work ahead in dismantling dangerous international criminal networks operating within U.S. borders.
Awaiting Justice
As Gonzales awaits extradition, prosecutors are preparing to press forward with what they describe as a high-profile and deeply disturbing case. The surviving victim, whose identity has been withheld for protection, is cooperating with investigators and continuing to recover from her injuries.
“This is just the beginning,” said one ICE official. “We will continue to go after these criminals until every last one of them is off the streets.”
