Davie Jimmy Mejia-Sensente, 26, of Daly City, Carlos Mejia-Quintanilla, 21, of San Francisco, and 32-year-old Luis Amilar-Zanas of San Francisco were named in the indictment handed down Tuesday in the shooting of Alexander Castanon.
Castanon, 26, was shot in the head early June 21 on the 6200 block of Mission Street, two blocks from his home. Investigators believe the barbecue restaurant worker had been involved in an altercation on a Muni bus and was not a gang member.
The defendants are suspected of belonging to the Mara Salvatrucha MS-13, which law enforcement officials consider one of the most dangerous street gangs in the area.
The indictment said the three men shot and killed Castanon "for the purpose of gaining entrance to and maintaining and increasing their positions in the MS-13 gang." Members were required to commit violent acts, the indictment said, "even against those who were only perceived to be rival gang members."
If convicted of the federal murder charge, the three could face life in prison or the death penalty, although federal prosecutors have not said whether they would seek lethal injection.
