SEVEN INDICTED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER, ABDUCTION, AND CARJACKING

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Christopher Perdomo, 27, of Georgia, was indicted for Murder in the First Degree, and other related charges, for his role in the killing of Linver Ortiz Ponce, 29, of Central Islip, for simply parking in front of Perdomo’s friend’s home. That friend, Kayla Alvarenga, 22, of Bay Shore, and five others, all adolescent offenders, have also been charged with murder and other crimes for assisting Perdomo.

“The alleged murder in this case occurred with no provocation and for no good reason. No one deserves to suffer a violent death for simply parking a car. The alleged brutality showed here is unconscionable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will seek justice for Mr. Ortiz Ponce and his family by aggressively prosecuting this vicious crime.”

This extensive investigation was conducted by the Suffolk County Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with law enforcement from North Carolina, Georgia, and Schenectady, who assisted with evidence collection and the apprehension of suspects.

According to the investigation, on September 16, 2022, just before midnight, Ortiz Ponce, parked his vehicle, a red Chevrolet Camaro, in front of Alvarenga’s home on Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore. Angry that he had parked in front of her house, Alvarenga allegedly confronted Ortiz Ponce and ordered him to move his car.

During the ensuing verbal dispute between Alvarenga and the victim, Alvarenga allegedly placed a phone call to friends, including Perdomo, instructing them to come and take care of the victim in front of her home. None of the defendants knew the victim; he had been a complete a stranger to them.

After receiving the alleged phone call from Alvarenga, Perdomo and three adolescents who were, at the time, ages 16, 16, and 17, allegedly drove to Alvarenga’s house in a BMW that they had allegedly stolen just hours earlier, after allegedly car jacking a young woman in Bay Shore. The four allegedly dragged Ortiz Ponce from his vehicle, beat him, and stole his vehicle. Video surveillance from a gas station across the street from Alvarenga’s house captured the stolen BMW and the stolen Camaro pulling away from Kayla’s home. It also captured Ortiz Ponce heading from the area outside of Alvarenga’s home to a gas station, where he attempted to hide behind vehicles. After watching Ortiz Ponce get away on foot, Alvarenga allegedly instructed the group, including Perdomo and the adolescents plus two additional adolescents, age 16 and 17 at the time, to find Ortiz Ponce, abduct him, and kill him.

Alvarenga then allegedly got into Ortiz Ponce’s stolen vehicle with two adolescents. Perdomo allegedly got into the stolen BMW with the other three adolescents. Both vehicles traveled the Bay Shore area, while in communication with each other, in search of Ortiz Ponce. When the occupants of the Camaro spotted the victim at the Shell gas station on Fifth Avenue, they allegedly alerted the occupants of the BMW. The occupants of the BMW, including Perdomo, then allegedly headed to the gas station.

Video surveillance from the gas station captured the violent gunpoint abduction of the victim, who was allegedly dragged into the BMW by Perdomo and others, despite visibly struggling.  

After Ortiz Ponce was put in the backseat of the BMW, there was a brief exchange between the occupants of the BMW and the occupants of the Camaro, where Alvarenga allegedly instructed the occupants of the BMW to follow her to a church parking lot, which she believed did not have cameras.

The two vehicles are seen leaving the gas station lot and traveling to the church. On the way to the church, Perdomo allegedly repeatedly beat Ortiz Ponce with a gun.

Church surveillance video captured the occupants of the BMW and the Camaro exiting the vehicles. After each of the seven defendants allegedly beat the victim severely, Alvarenga allegedly ordered Perdomo to kill him. Perdomo then allegedly repeatedly shot the victim as he attempted to crawl away.

After the fatal shooting, both cars were seen fleeing the scene. The group allegedly abandoned the Camaro in a wooded area in Smithtown. They then allegedly abandoned the BMW in Brentwood. They then took an Uber back to Alvarenga’s house, where proceeds from the victim’s wallet were allegedly distributed.

Perdomo was apprehended in Georgia, where he had moved in May of 2024.

On October 16, 2024, Perdomo was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. for the following charges contained in the indictment: 

• One Count of Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony;
• Two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony;
• One count of Kidnapping in the First Degree, a Class A felony;
• Four counts of Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class C Violent felony;
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony; and
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.

Justice Senft ordered Perdomo remanded during the pendency of the case. Perdomo is due back in court on November 13, 2024, and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Robert Gottlieb, Esq.

Alvarenga is expected to be arraigned on October 30, 2024. All of the adolescent offenders are in custody, with charges pending.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Assistant District Attorney Aileen Iorio of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective Luis Cabrera of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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