Here is more on the M-13 gang.
The Mara Salvatrucha originated in the United States in 1987 in Los Angeles. Founders of the gang were previously members of La Mara gang in El Salvador. Many of its members fled to the U.S. during the El Salvador civil war in the 1980s. The majority of Salvadorians immigrated to Southern California and Washington, D.C.
Initially the gang was involved in small activities such as graffiti and only extended membership to Salvadorians. Now their interests have escalated and membership is open to anyone between the ages of 11 and 40. Today members are predominately Spanish with ties to Central America. M-13 has members in every state except Hawaii.
http://www.thesentinel.com/298502158199476.php
THe Sentinel is Maryland/Washington DC area. The above came from an article titled "Gang violence erupts at Shady Grove Metro stop", a 19 yr old was shot by a gang member.
I was recently in Honduras and while the country is poor the people have huge souls. I was very disturbed by this crime.