LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A suspected gang member was arrested and charged with attempted murder in southern Indiana Sunday morning, according to police.

Clarksville Police Department said officers responded around 10 p.m. Saturday to the area of Blackiston Mill Road and Marlowe Drive to a "confrontation that escalated into a serious event" before police arrived. Police later said it was a targeted attack.

Police Chief Nathan Walls identified the suspect as Mario Rios, who's believed to be affiliated with the gang MS-13, based off tattoos.

The U.S. Department of Justice classifies, MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha 13, as a well-organized gang heavily involved in lucrative illegal enterprises, being notorious for its use of violence to achieve its objectives.

Scene of MS-13 gang member arrest

Pictured: this frame grab taken from video dated March 9, 2025, shows a convenience store on Blackston Mill Road and Marlowe Drive in Clarksville, Ind., where police say a suspected MS-13 gang member attacked another person. (WDRB image)

Walls said the victim was stabbed twice and cut across the chest. The man was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. 

Rios was arrested several hours later in Jeffersonville. Police believe his mother lives at that home. 

"We've got hunters, and when somebody commits a crime against a person with bodily damage, our officers and our detectives are going to be out, and they did fantastic work all night long," Walls said.

Clarksville police said several witnesses tried to stop Rios' who left the scene in his car.

When asked if there are other suspected gang members in Clarksville, Walls pointed to this being a national situation.

"To say that he was the only one in the region, and we got him, I mean, that would be naive on our part," Walls said. "We want the people community to know and feel safe and know that we're working hard to root out these situations and when a crime against a person like this occurs." 

Clarksville police said they are trying to verify Rios' documents to verify his citizenship. Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull added ICE is also working on this.

Rios is being held on $250,000 full cash bond. The preliminary charges are attempted murder.

"The MS-13 gang is a gang that has a reputation for involvement in illegal acts and violent acts in communities, but, again, that is being examined and looked at here," Mull said. "As I stand here, I can neither confirm nor deny this individual is a member of that gang but it is being actively looked at." 

Rios is expected back in court Tuesday. Walls said, to their knowledge, Rios does not have a criminal history. 

Police believe it was an isolated incident and that the suspect and victim were familiar with each other but didn't elaborate. 

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