Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Nelson Torres was indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder in the first degree for the death of 22-year-old Anderson David Archila Martinez after the two encountered each other on a Corona sidewalk on April 14. The victim rode his bicycle near Torres and inadvertently struck the defendant’s book bag. Torres allegedly chased after Archila Martinez, knocked him from the bicycle and stole it. When Archila Martinez caught up with the defendant to recover his bicycle, he was fatally stabbed.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant violently ended the life of a young man who did nothing more than bump into him. He is accused of stealing the victim’s bicycle and stabbing him to death with a knife when the victim tried to get his property back. The defendant is now indicted for first-degree murder and other serious charges.”

Torres, 33, of 37^th Avenue in Corona, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with murder in the first degree, two counts of murder in the second degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael B. Aloise remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on September 3. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to life in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges, on April 14, at approximately 12:16 a.m., defendant Nelson Torres was standing in line on the sidewalk at a food truck near the intersection of Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona. The victim, 22-year-old Anderson David Archila Martinez of Spring Valley, approached the intersection riding a bicycle on the busy sidewalk. As Archila Martinez pedaled past Torres, he jostled Torres’ book bag.

After the contact, an argument ensued between the two men. Torres then chased Archila Martinez as he rode away. The defendant allegedly knocked Archila Martinez off his bicycle and took the bike while holding a knife in his hand.

Archila Martinez pulled out his cellphone, called 911, reported that his bicycle was stolen, and that he was pursuing the person responsible. Archila Martinez caught up to the defendant on the northeast corner of Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue and knocked him to the ground. After being knocked off the bicycle, Torres allegedly thrust a knife at the victim and stabbed him in the abdomen.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorneys Veronika Podoprigora, Antonio Vittiglio and Alexa Ornelas, under the supervision of Assistant District John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Karen Ross, Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.