QUEENS, NY – Edwin Cruz Gomez was indicted on multiple charges including second-degree murder and attempted murder after a fatal incident involving a 16-year-old girl on Roosevelt Avenue. The charges stem from an event in which Gomez intentionally drove his vehicle into the victim and her family.
District Attorney Melinda Katz reported details of the case, stating that Gomez had sexually propositioned Jhoanny Saray Gomez-Alvarez and her mother shortly before the collision. “As alleged, the defendant crudely propositioned 16-year-old Jhoanny Saray Gomez-Alvarez and her mother for sex,” Katz noted.
Cruz Gomez, 38, was arraigned on a 15-count indictment that includes three counts of murder in the second degree, three counts of attempted murder, and aggravated vehicular homicide among other charges. He is currently remanded until his next court appearance on December 2, facing a potential sentence of up to 27 1/3 years to life in prison.
According to ICE, “ICE New York City lodged an immigration detainer with the New York City Department of Corrections against the release of 38-year-old illegal alien Jose Edwin Cruz Gomez on Sept. 15. Cruz is an illegal alien from Honduras who was arrested by the New York City Police Department for murder, attempted murder, assault, vehicular manslaughter and several other felony crimes after he mowed down a 16-year-old, her mother, and her stepfather with his vehicle after the teenager refused his drunken, lewd advances on Sept. 13. The collision killed the young girl and injured her mother.”
The incident reportedly occurred on September 13, at approximately 4:10 a.m., near the Prima Donna Restaurant. Following a confrontation with the victim’s stepfather, Gomez allegedly entered his vehicle and drove onto the sidewalk, targeting the family. The vehicle struck Gomez-Alvarez, killing her, and injured her mother.
Emergency responders confirmed that the 16-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the collision.
Gomez attempted to evade capture by reporting an assault to NYPD officers nearby. He led them back to the collision location where he had abandoned his vehicle.
A breath analysis conducted after the incident determined Gomez’s blood alcohol content was between .18 and .21 percent. The investigation was conducted by Detective Timothy Ziegler of the NYPD’s 110th Detective Squad.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale is leading the prosecution in the case, with the support of other assistant district attorneys under the supervision of the Homicide Bureau.
A man is facing serious charges for allegedly driving his SUV into a teenager, resulting in tragedy on a Queens street.
