Teen Rebuffed Drunk Man's Advances, So He Allegedly Got In Car and Fatally Ran Her Over: Prosecutors By Nicole Acosta

A New York man is charged with murder and other criminal counts after authorities allege he “intentionally” struck a 16-year-old girl with his car after sexually harassing the teen and her mother.

Edwin Cruz Gomez, 38, allegedly fled the scene of the crash in Elmhurst, Queens around 4:10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 after barreling his “3-ton vehicle” into 16-year-old Jhoanny Alvarez, killing her, and injuring her mother and stepfather, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a press release on Monday, Sept. 15.

Katz said the suspect was with several other men outside the Prima Donna Restaurant on Roosevelt Avenue when he “began harassing the victim and her mother, offering 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 release states. “Bystanders intervened and separated the men.”

After the confrontation, the teen, her mother, stepfather and boyfriend crossed the street. That’s when prosecutors claim the suspect got into his vehicle, a Chevrolet Suburban, and drove onto the sidewalk directly in line with the group of four.

Gomez allegedly struck Alvarez, her mother and stepfather before reversing into an unoccupied van. At that point, the suspect abandoned his SUV and fled the scene on foot, Katz alleges.

Emergency responders pronounced the teen dead at the scene while her mother was transported to a local hospital for treatment, per the release.

Katz claims Gomez approached “uniformed NYPD officers” a few blocks away and reported that he was assaulted before leading them back to the crash scene. His blood alcohol content allegedly measured .137 percent, well above the legal threshold of .08 percent, the release states.

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Gomez, of Uniondale, N.Y., was arraigned Monday on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, per the release.

It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the suspect faces in excess of 25 years to life in prison, if convicted as charged. He is expected to return to court on Sept. 19.