She was his best friend. And she led him to his death

MS-13 is said to have had a “sizable presence” at Panorama High School. She testified that a voice belonging to someone she hadn’t met, someone known as El Desquiciado — the Deranged — told her they wanted Brayan lured to a park “because they wanted to kill him.” His real name, which wasn’t known to the girl, was Roberto Carlos Mendez Cruz. When Brayan had looked away, his friend whispered to the other classmate, telling her about MS-13’s plan: “Lo van darle abajo.” They’re going to put him down. “And I don’t care.” At this, El Desquiciado struck Brayan in the face and a boy grabbed him from behind, the friend testified. Phillippi, the campus policeman, testified that the principal called him into his office a month after Brayan’s remains were found and asked: “Officer Phillippi, who do I need to get out of this school to calm this MS problem?” Brayan’s best friend was arrested in February 2018 and charged with murder.