Illegal alien indicted for murder after driving suv into 16-year-old girl and her monther

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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.