Three arraigned in 2007 slaying

Three men suspected in the 2007 slaying of a Salvadoran man who was alleged to be a gang member pleaded not guilty in District Court last week.

Alexander Perez, 25, Tonis Flores, 27, and Victoriano Luna-Diaz, 30, face multiple charges in the death of 24-year-old Jose Martinez, including murder with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and robbery.

A fourth suspect, Mario Canedo, is still wanted by police in connection with the slaying.

Martinez, who was suspected of being a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 gang, was found shot to death on Kasper Avenue, near H Street, on July 29, 2007.

Perez, who also goes by the name Julio Gutierez-Cesar, and the other defendants accompanied Martinez to his apartment on Carey Avenue near Las Vegas Boulevard, where they searched for a gun, according to a Las Vegas police report.

Luna-Diaz and Perez then beat up Martinez, forced him into a car and drove with Flores and Canedo to H and Kasper, the report said.

Witnesses told police that Perez and Luna-Diaz, who goes by the nickname "Toto," then shot and killed Martinez, the report said.

Luna-Diaz and Perez "called the others (expletives) because they didn't participate in the murder," according to the police report.

Perez and the others also are accused of robbing a 7-Eleven store in the 2500 block of North Pecos Road of an 18-pack of Bud Light and stealing a Chevrolet Camaro near Walnut and San Antonio avenues.

Investigators were quick to nab Perez, who was arrested July 31, 2007. Police arrested Luna-Diaz in June. Flores was charged in September.

A trial date for Perez, Flores and Luna-Diaz was set for Nov. 30. All three are being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.