On December 12, 2024, 20-year-old Emerson Josue Martinez Alvarenga was sentenced to three years in prison by Loudoun County Circuit Court for a series of firearm-related charges, including maliciously shooting into an occupied building. The charges stemmed from a June 2023 incident in Leesburg that began as a dispute over a video game console and escalated into a shooting that could have been fatal.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 29, 2023, when a teenage resident of a Leesburg apartment heard a knock at his door. Through the peephole, he recognized Martinez Alvarenga, someone he knew, standing outside with another man. The teen, aware of their ongoing dispute, chose not to open the door.
Shortly after, the teen received a voicemail from Martinez Alvarenga about the console dispute and returned to his bedroom. Moments later, a gunshot rang out. A bullet tore through an exterior wall, entered the teen’s bedroom, and struck a pillow on his bed. Terrified, the teenager hid in a closet and called for help.
Leesburg Police responded quickly and uncovered evidence connecting Martinez Alvarenga to two prior incidents of brandishing a firearm. The investigation led to his arrest, and officers recovered a firearm from his residence.
In court, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anna Hammond underscored the severity of Martinez Alvarenga’s actions. “He terrorized the community for six weeks. The facts are egregious; he shot into a bedroom over a video game.” Hammond argued for a sentence exceeding Virginia’s guidelines.
Defense attorneys highlighted the defendant’s uncertain future, noting that deportation to El Salvador was likely and could result in further imprisonment.
Judge Thomas D. Horne, however, expressed dismay over the case. “Your conduct is outrageous … defies civility,” he said, dismissing the one-year-and-four-month sentence recommended by guidelines as insufficient.
Martinez Alvarenga’s three-year sentence serves as a stark reminder of how disputes can escalate into dangerous, life-threatening actions. Thanks to swift police work and a thorough investigation, no one was hurt—but the outcome could have been much worse.
