William Alvarez Obituary – The New York Police Department has disclosed the identities of three individuals sought in connection with the death of a 45-year-old subway passenger just before last Friday’s morning rush as it intensifies its efforts to capture the alleged perpetrators.
Late on Sunday, authorities named the trio as Justin Herde, 24, Betty Cotto, 38, and Alfredo Trinidad, 42. The nature of the relationship among the three remains unclear, and it seems they did not have any prior ties to the victim.
As per the NYPD, the victim, William Alvarez from the Bronx, was on a southbound D train around 5 a.m. on Friday when the trio boarded at Fordham Road. One of them sat beside Alvarez, leading to an argument.
The dispute escalated into a physical altercation, with the other two suspects joining in to make it a three-on-one fight, according to NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper. The train stopped at the next station, the 182nd-183rd streets stop, and the three suspects fled.
Authorities arrived at the scene on Grand Concourse to find the victim unconscious. He was rushed out of the station on a stretcher and taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of death, with signs pointing to either a gunshot or puncture wound to the victim’s chest. The medical examiner is conducting further examinations to establish the exact cause of Alvarez’s death.
No weapon was found at the scene, and the suspects’ whereabouts after fleeing remain unknown. Officials mentioned that video footage from inside the train car capturing the entire incident could play a crucial role in the ongoing investigation.
This violent incident is the latest in a series of subway-related crimes. On February 12, six individuals were shot on the platform at the Mt. Eden Avenue subway station in the Bronx during a gunfight involving teenagers, resulting in the death of a 35-year-old.
Recent data from the NYPD raises concerns, with 2023 recording the highest number of subway assaults since at least 1996. Throughout that year, there were 570 assaults, showing a slight increase from the previous year and averaging about.