WASHINGTON - ABC 7 News has learned that one of the seven defendants in the murder of a 15-year-old boy in Gaithersburg back in January is also a suspect in a stabbing in the District.

Daniel Zavala, 26, was arrested this weekend. He is one of seven reputed 18th Street gang members arrested in the kidnapping of 15-year-old Dennys Guzman-Saenz, of Hyattsville. Police say the boy had ties to MS-13, but was not a member. MS-13 and 18th Street are enemy gangs.

Police say the alleged 18th Street members from D.C., Maryland and Virginia abducted the boy from a Langley Park bus stop and drove to Malcolm King Park in Gaithersburg, where the boy's body was dumped in a creek. An autopsy revealed the 15-year-old had been stabbed 72 times.

It happened on January 18th, a date important because of the gang's name, police said. Investigators believe the violent murder was part of a gang ritual.

ABC 7 News has learned from sources that Avala is suspected of stabbing a reputed MS-13 gang member early Sunday morning, at 14th Street and Perry Place in the District. The victim survived.

Avala lives near the crime scene, on Randolph Street.

Not even an hour after that stabbing, just up 14th Street, at Otis Place, sources say a 19-year-old was fatally stabbed with a machete. Sources explain detectives are investigating whether the 18th Street gang is responsible for that killing.

Sources also say at least one of the seven alleged 18th Street members arrested in the murder of the 15-year-old boy in Maryland is suspecting of killing a 23-year-old man outside of Sissy's restaurant in February. Sources say the 18th Street gang suspect asked the victim what gang he was in and then opened fire.

Police sources tell ABC 7 news that gang units plan to step up their presence along the 14th Street corridor, where investigators have seen an uptick in gang graffiti coinciding with the recent gang violence.

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