Nassau police to release details of 2nd MS-13 arrest; arraignment today

The Nassau County police department said it will provide details on Thursday of the second arrest in connection with the suspected MS-13 machete killing of a man whose remains were found in a shallow grave in East Meadow.

A news conference is scheduled for 9:15 a.m., at which time Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau police homicide squad is expected to discuss the arrest of José Quintanilla Cruz, 23, of Hempstead.

Cruz was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Carlos Rivas-Majano, 21, of Uniondale.

In August, investigators recovered Rivas-Majano’s remains in a wooded area south of Glenn Curtiss Boulevard near Kellenberg Memorial High School.

Authorities said Rivas-Majano was lured there before he was “viciously and barbarically” attacked by at least five MS-13 members.

Cruz is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Last month, police arrested Carlos Benitez-Hernandez, 21, of Uniondale, and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with the killing. Benitez-Hernandez pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.