Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Edwin Cruz Gomez was indicted for murder, attempted murder, assault, driving under the influence and other crimes for intentionally aiming his vehicle at a 16-year-old girl and her family on Roosevelt Avenue in Elmhurst and killing the teen. The defendant sexually propositioned the girl and her mother just minutes before the collision.

DA Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant crudely propositioned 16-year-old Jhoanny Saray Gomez-Alvarez and her mother for sex. After a brief physical altercation with the child’s stepfather, the defendant got behind the wheel of his SUV while intoxicated, drove onto the sidewalk and aimed his vehicle directly at the group, killing the teenager and severely injuring her mother. This was a completely preventable tragedy and our condolences are with the family and friends of Jhoanny as they continue to mourn her senseless loss.”

Cruz Gomez, 38, of Nostrand Avenue in Uniondale, was arraigned today on a 15-count indictment charging him with three counts of murder in the second degree, three counts of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, aggravated vehicular homicide, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, aggravated driving while intoxicated,  two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise continued remand and ordered him to return to court December 2. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 27 1/3 years to life in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on September 13, at approximately 4:10 a.m., Edwin Cruz Gomez was with several other men outside the Prima Donna Restaurant, on Roosevelt Avenue between Elmhurst Avenue and Benham Street. The group of men, including the defendant, encountered the victim with her mother, stepfather and boyfriend. The defendant harassed the victim and her mother and offered them both money for sexual acts. A verbal dispute ensued and then escalated into a physical altercation between the victim’s stepfather and the defendant. The victim and her mother intervened and separated the men.

Following the confrontation, all parties separated. The victim, her mother, stepfather and boyfriend walked away from the restaurant and crossed Benham Street.  Gomez entered his vehicle, a Chevrolet Suburban that was double-parked on Roosevelt Avenue, and then drove onto the sidewalk directly in line with the foursome.

After driving onto the sidewalk, Gomez allegedly struck 16-year-old Gomez-Alvarez — pinning her against a pole — and her mother and stepfather. Gomez then proceeded in reverse off the sidewalk and turned onto Benham Street against the posted direction until he struck an unoccupied van. At that point, Gomez abandoned his SUV and fled the scene on foot.

Emergency responders determined Alvarez was deceased due to her injuries. Her mother was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries to her leg sustained during the collision.

The defendant approached uniformed NYPD officers a few blocks away and reported that he was assaulted. He led officers back to the collision location.

Scientific analysis based on a breath test of the defendant administered after the collision indicated his blood alcohol content at the time of the collision was between .18 and .21 percent, which was above the legal threshold of .08 percent.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Timothy Ziegler of the NYPD’s 110^th Detective Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Abigail Neuviller under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Selkowe, Unit Chief of the District Attorney’s Vehicular Homicide Unit and Deputy Bureau Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and John Kosinski, Bureau Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.