Edwin Cruz Gomez of Uniondale has been indicted on multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder, after reportedly driving his vehicle into a teenage girl and her family in Elmhurst, Queens. The incident, which resulted in the death of 16-year-old Jhoanny Saray Gomez-Alvarez and injuries to her mother, followed a confrontation where the suspect allegedly propositioned the victims for sexual favors.
The Queens District Attorney's Office revealed that Gomez, 38, now faces a 15-count indictment which includes charges such as aggravated vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. Reports suggest that after being rebuffed and getting into a physical altercation with the girl's stepfather, Gomez entered his SUV and intentionally drove onto the sidewalk, targeting the family. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise has ordered Gomez to remain in custody and to return to court on December 2. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 27 years to life in prison.
According to a statement obtained by the Queens District Attorney's Office, the tragic event unfolded in the early hours of September 13 after the defendant and a group of men encountered the victim and her family outside a restaurant on Roosevelt Avenue. Following the altercation, the victim’s relatives tried to walk away, only for Cruz Gomez to aggressively pursue them by vehicle. The impact pinned Gomez-Alvarez against a pole, causing fatal injuries, while her mother sustained leg injuries.
After the attack, Gomez reportedly attempted to flee the scene in his Chevrolet Suburban but was stopped when he crashed into an unoccupied van. He was later apprehended by NYPD officers when he approached them, claiming to have been assaulted himself. A breath test administered to the defendant indicated a blood alcohol content of between .18 and .21 percent, substantially over the legal threshold. The investigation was conducted by Detective Timothy Ziegler of the NYPD's 110th Detective Squad and is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, with assistance from Abigail Neuviller and under the supervision of senior officials from the bureau.
