Jurors watch video of deadly attack in Sultan

EVERETT — Antonio Marks was bleeding to death.

He had been knocked to the ground, kicked in the head and stabbed in the stomach.

The 17-year-old was left alone in the middle of a Sultan street. A crimson stain spread out on his shirt, an athletic jersey bearing the Number 13.

Snohomish County jurors this morning watched a video of the June 17 attack as the first day of testimony began in the trial of a self-proclaimed gang member.

Ana Cary Ayala Bustos turns 17 later this month. She is charged with second-degree murder. If she is convicted, she faces more time in prison than she’s been alive.

Four others have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death. They are serving 1o to 15-year sentences.

Prosecutors allege that the slaying was motivated by a gang rivalry. They say two defendants, brothers Marco and Adolfo Castillo were confirmed members of the Brown Pride Soldiers, a Sultan-based gang. Marks was a member of Southland Villains, court papers said.

Both gangs claimed affiliation with the Surenos, an international street gang with ties to the Mexican Mafia. Associated gangs commonly advertise their connection by displaying the Number 13 and the color blue.

About a month before Marks was killed, the two local gangs made it known that they were at odds with each other, according to Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow.

Marks was waiting at a bus stop when he saw members of the Brown Pride Soldiers up the street. He called out to them and began walking toward them, Darrow told jurors. The Brown Pride Soldiers fanned out around Marks. Marco Castillo shoved Marks who fell to the ground, hitting his head. He never moved again, Darrow said.

Marco Castillo punched Marks a dozen times in the head while the others stood at attention, the deputy prosecutor said. Then they rushed forward and began to kick and stomp on Marks’ head, Darrow said.

Prosecutors allege that Bustos took part in the slaying to further her position in the gang.

Her attorney Karen Halverson told jurors Bustos didn’t know Marks. She was only with the group that night because she was dating Jaime Santana, 16, one of the co-defendants.

“There is no evidence that this occurred because they were in a gang,” Halverson said.

Halverson warned jurors that the video of the attack would be shocking, but said it also proves her client’s involvement was limited. Bustos told investigators that she kicked Marks in the side but that kick did not kill Marks, Halverson said.

Marco Castillo is responsible for the murder, Halverson said. He stabbed Marks, inflicting the fatal wounds, she added.

Bustos didn’t know that Marks had been stabbed, nor did she know that he had died until detectives questioned her, Halverson told jurors.

Marks’ family sat in the courtroom this morning. His mother rushed out as the video of the beating began to play. She hid her face as jurors were shown pictures of her son taken after the assault.

Jurors also heard from a Sultan man who watched the attack from the second-floor of his house.

One of the first firefighters on the scene also testified.

She counted six stab wounds, found a faint pulse and knew that the boy’s prognosis was grave as she watched his stomach become distended when his abdomen started to fill with blood.

Marks was taken by helicopter to a Seattle hospital. He died a short time later.