FBI Arrests Suspected MS 13 Terrorist Wanted for Brutal Murder of Pastor

MS 13 Gang Member Arrested by FBI for Brutal Murder of Pastor in El Salvador

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Danny Antonio Granados Garcia, a suspected member of the MS 13 Foreign Terrorist Organization, in Waterbury, Connecticut, on Monday, March 10, 2026.

Granados Garcia had been identified as a fugitive with an active El Salvadorian arrest warrant and an Interpol Blue Notice for aggravated homicide. He is accused of murdering a pastor in El Salvador who was a relative of an El Salvadorian police officer.

The FBI's New Haven field office coordinated the arrest alongside the FBI Legal Attaché office in San Salvador. Granados Garcia was taken into custody without incident.

P.J. O'Brien, FBI New Haven Special Agent in Charge, issued a statement following the arrest.

"MS 13 members are notorious for their brutality, violence, and intimidation."

Following his arrest, Granados Garcia was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate his deportation to El Salvador, where he will face charges for the pastor's killing.

MS 13, originally formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants, has grown into one of the most violent transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere. The gang has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States government.

FBI Captures Suspected MS 13 Killer of Salvadoran Pastor in Connecticut

The case highlights the ongoing threat that gang violence poses to Christian leaders and communities throughout Central America. Pastors and church leaders in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala have repeatedly been targeted by gangs for extortion, violence, and murder.

Religious leaders who refuse to comply with gang demands or who work to steer young people away from gang life often face deadly consequences. The murder of this pastor underscores the grave dangers that men and women of faith continue to face in regions plagued by organized criminal violence.

The Crusader's Opinion

A pastor was murdered for his faith and his family ties to law enforcement, and his killer was living freely in America. Let that sink in. While politicians debate immigration policy in abstract terms, real pastors are being butchered by gang members who then walk across our border and disappear into our cities. This man was a member of a designated terrorist organization. He should never have been here in the first place. Thank God the FBI tracked him down. Now let El Salvador deliver justice. Our prayers go to the pastor's family and congregation. The blood of martyrs cries out, and we will not be silent.

Take Action

• Pray: Lift up the family and congregation of the murdered pastor in El Salvador. Pray for the safety of all pastors and Christian leaders facing gang threats in Central America.
• Donate: Support persecuted Christian communities through The Shepherd's Shield and Open Doors USA.
• Report: If you have information about MS 13 or other gang activity targeting religious leaders, contact the FBI at 1 800 CALL FBI (1 800 225 5324) or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
• Share: Spread this story on social media. The mainstream media will not amplify the persecution of Christian pastors. We must do it ourselves.
• Contact Your Representative: Demand stronger protections for religious leaders targeted by transnational gangs. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224 3121.