A Queens man accused of intentionally mowing down a 16-year-old girl and others outside a restaurant early Saturday is a Honduran national who had previously been deported and had multiple run-ins with the law, authorities say. Edwin Cruz-Gomez, 38, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on murder charges after prosecutors said he deliberately struck four relatives with his 2009 Chevy Suburban following a confrontation sparked by lewd remarks toward the teen and her mother outside the Elmhurst establishment.
Prosecutors said the attack killed 16-year-old Jhoanny Alvarez and injured the girl’s mother and other family members, with Cruz-Gomez allegedly steering the SUV toward three of the four people during the incident. Investigators said the car struck the victims as the four were involved in a dispute outside the restaurant in the early hours of Saturday. Cruz-Gomez was behind the wheel of the Suburban, a blue-collar vehicle that has become a central element in the case.
According to a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) source, Cruz-Gomez was deported in 2005 before reentering the United States at a later date. He was arrested in April 2013 on a driving-under-the-influence charge and detained by ICE on Long Island. Court records indicate he faced another deportation order but was released three months later under the Alternatives to Detention program, after which officials say they lost track of him. In the months before the fatal crash, sources told Fox News that federal officials did not prioritize him for removal after an October 2024 arrest for possessing a forged instrument. A month later he was convicted for driving without a license and served a five-day jail sentence, followed by another DUI arrest in January, after which an ICE detainer was reportedly placed following Saturday’s arrest. ICE did not respond to a request for comment.
The victim’s family has described the hours-long confrontation that preceded the crash, during which prosecutors say Cruz-Gomez made lewd remarks to Alvarez and her mother before getting into his vehicle and accelerating toward the four relatives. Authorities say the blood alcohol level measured about twice the legal limit four hours after the crash, a detail prosecutors said helps explain why the suspect allegedly acted with intent.
Cruz-Gomez is charged with three counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault, and a count of vehicular manslaughter, in addition to the top charge of murder related to Alvarez’s death. If convicted on the most serious charge, he could face a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison. He remains in custody pending future court dates as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the crash.
The case has drawn attention to the intersection of criminal justice and immigration policy, including how prior deportations, detention decisions, and enforcement priorities intersect with criminal cases in New York City. While prosecutors and law enforcement emphasize the violent nature of the attack, observers note that Cruz-Gomez’s immigration history highlights broader questions about how and when individuals with prior deportation orders are tracked and processed by federal authorities. ICE officials did not provide comment in time for publication, and prosecutors said the investigation remains active as more evidence is reviewed.
Amid questions about the defendant’s past, the courtroom process will continue through the coming weeks as Cruz-Gomez faces a potential trial date. The victim’s family and the community have called for accountability, while public safety advocates underscore the need for vigilance against repeat offenses by individuals with prior immigration violations.