CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Seven people have been indicted for first-degree murder, abduction, and carjacking on Long Island, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney Tuesday.
Christopher Perdomo, 27, of Georgia, was indicted for first-degree murder 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, the DA said.
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 DA said.
According to the investigation, on Sept. 16, 2022, just before midnight, Ortiz Ponce parked
his red Chevrolet Camaro in front of Alvarenga’s home on Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore which angered Alvarenga, so she confronted Ortiz Ponce and ordered him to move his car, the DA said.
During the ensuing verbal dispute between Alvarenga and the victim, Alvarenga called friends, including Perdomo, and asked to come "take care" of the victim, who none of them personally knew, in front of her home, the DA said.
After getting the call from Alvarenga, Perdomo and three adolescents who at the time were 16, 16, and 17, drove to Alvarenga’s house in a BMW that they had stolen hours before from a young woman in Bay Shore, the DA said. The four then dragged Ortiz Ponce from his vehicle, beat him, and stole his vehicle, the DA said.
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, the DA said. After watching Ortiz Ponce get away on foot, Alvarenga allegedly instructed the group, including Perdomo and the adolescents plus two additional adolescents, ages 16 and 17 at the time, to find Ortiz Ponce, abduct him, and kill him, the DA said.
Alvarenga then got into Ortiz Ponce’s stolen vehicle with two adolescents while Perdomo
got into the stolen BMW with the other three adolescents, the DA said. Both vehicles drove around the Bay Shore area while they talked to each other and searched for Ortiz Ponce, the DA said.
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, the DA said.
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, the DA said.
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 DA said.
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, the DA said.
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 who then repeatedly shot the victim as he attempted to crawl away, the DA said.
Both cars were seen fleeing the scene and the group abandoned the Camaro in a wooded area in Smithtown and abandoned the BMW in Brentwood, the DA said. They then took an Uber back to Alvarenga’s house, where proceeds from the victim’s wallet were distributed, the DA said.
Perdomo was later apprehended in Georgia, where he had moved in May of 2024.
"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 Tierney. "We will seek justice for Mr. Ortiz Ponce and his family by aggressively prosecuting this vicious crime."
During the investigation, the Suffolk County Police Department and district attorney’s office worked with law enforcement from North Carolina, Georgia, and Schenectady, who assisted with evidence collection and the apprehension of suspects, the DA said.
On Oct. 16, Perdomo was arraigned Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. and charged with one count of first-degree murder, a Class A felony; two counts of second-degree murder, a Class A felony; one count of first-degree kidnapping, a Class A felony; four counts of second-degree robbery, a Class C Violent felony; two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony; and fourth-degree conspiracy, a Class E felony, the DA said.
Senft ordered Perdomo held without bail and he is due back in court on Nov. 13, the DA said.
Perdomo faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted on the top count, the DA said. He is being represented by Robert Gottlieb.
Alvarenga is expected to be arraigned on Oct. 30, 2024. All of the adolescent offenders are in
custody, with charges pending.
Source: https://patch.com/new-york/bayshore/7-indicted-murder-abduction-carjacking-after-parking-dispute-da
