Teen Who Was Killed While Walking to Virginia Mosque Was Assaulted: Reports

A Virginia teen who was killed as she was heading to her mosque was also assaulted, an indictment said, CBS News reported.

The suspect, Darwin Martinez-Torres, 22, of Sterling, Virginia, is believed to be an illegal immigrant. In June, when he was arrested, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on him, saying he was in the United States illegally, Fox5 DC reported.

Martinez-Torres is accused of attacking 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen with a bat and killing her in June. But according to a Tuesday report from CBS News, he was indicted on murder and rape charges, meaning that prosecutors can pursue a death-penalty case against Martinez-Torres.

Virginia law allows prosecutors to pursue a death-penalty case if certain terms are met, including murder in the commission of a rape and murder during an abduction with intent to defile, CBS noted.

The violent incident took place when Nabra and friends were walking near the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling, Virginia. Nabra’s friends got into an argument with Martinez-Torres, who was driving a car. He’s accused of chasing the group and abducting Nabra before her body was discovered in a pond in Loudoun County, Fox5 reported.

Nabra’s family started yelling at Martinez-Torres in court on Friday, reports said. The mother of the girl is reported to have thrown a shoe at him.

“It’s hard. I hope this not happening to anybody,” said Mohmod Hassanen, her father, according to WUSA9-TV.

Fairfax County Police spokeswoman Julie Parker released a statement Monday on the indictment.

“We shared information about this tragic case from the very beginning. We provided Mr. Morrogh’s office a complete and thorough investigation. Our officers brought this suspect into custody and take comfort in knowing he’s behind bars. We have full confidence the Commonwealth’s attorney will ensure justice is served for Nabra, her family and friends, and our entire community,” Parker said, according to WUSA9.

A court hearing for Thursday is set for Martinez-Torres, who was a construction worker and has a 4-year-old child.

In June, ICE issued a statement. “On June 19, ICE lodged a detainer on Darwin Martinez Torres, a citizen and national of El Salvador, with the Adult Detention Center in Fairfax, Virginia. ICE lodges detainers on aliens who have been arrested on local criminal charges when the agency has probable cause to believe an alien is removable from the United States. Mr. Martinez Torres has no prior encounters with ICE,” an ICE representative told Fox News.