On September 12, 2025, a man in New York City intentionally hit three people with his car after a series of events of his inappropriate behavior towards the 16-year-old girl, specifically.
What Happened?
The Saturday of September 12, at about 4 am, Edwin Cruz Gomez, the New York City man (age 38), offered the 16-year-old girl Jhoanny Alvarez and her mother “money for sexual acts” (as said by ABC News Network). It was noted that this NYC man (Gomez) was not alone at the time, as he was with other men in front of a “Primma Donna Restaurant in Queens.
Officials then later released that as a result of Edwin C Gomez’s inappropriate and vulgar behavior towards this teen and mother, it had caused a verbal fight between Gomez and the teen’s stepfather, which later advanced into a physical confrontation.
On the other hand, due to the public environment, people surrounding the area (witnesses and/or bystanders) were able to separate the two men and stop the altercation.
Following this, the teen girl, her mother, stepfather, and he boyfriend, who were all present, began to walk in the opposite direction, but in a turn of events this was when Edwin Cruz Gomez made the decision to get into his car (his Chevrolet Suburban) which is when he then “barreled his 3-ton vehicle into them” and “pinned the teen against a pole.” (As released by the district attorneys office)
Right after committing this crime, his immediate response (after attacking the 16-year-old girl and her mother and stepfather) was his attempt to escape the scene as he continued to abandon his vehicle and run away on foot.
When paramedics arrived on the scene, the 16-year-old girl, Jhoanny Alvarez, was said to be deceased (on the scene of the crime), and her mother received injuries to her leg and was transferred for treatment at the nearest hospital for immediate medical attention (said by officials).
The suspect (Edwin Cruz Gomez) later found NYPD officers NOT on the scene of the crime and informed them about the accident while also taking them to the scene of the crime where the accident happened (officials said). The police on the scene then decided to measure Edwin Cruz Gomez’s blood alcohol levels, and he was over the legal amount, meaning he was impaired and shouldn’t have been driving at all, and he was then taken to the station (in custody) on that same day.
When Edwin Cruz Gomez was taken into custody, he was almost immediately charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, vehicular manslaughter, etc. (according to ABC News Network).
Gomez’s next court hearing is set for September 19, 2025, and if he is officially convicted of every crime, he is facing 25 years to life in prison for the assaults and crimes committed.
