Victor Alvarenga, 26, was shot and killed in the early morning of November 4, 2018, on a residential street in Flushing, Queens. Police responded to a 911 call at about 4:30 a.m. and found him near the corner of 45th Avenue and 163rd Street with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital and pronounced dead; an autopsy confirmed multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the manner of death homicide.

Investigators tied the killing to members of MS-13. In May 2020 federal prosecutors charged ten alleged members in a racketeering case that includes Victor’s murder. Two alleged associates, Douglas Melgar-Suriano, then 22, and Jairo Martinez-Garcia, then 21, were charged in Victor’s killing and are accused of lying in wait, approaching him as he walked, and shooting him multiple times. Both men face life or the death penalty if convicted.

Anyone who knew Victor, saw him the night of November 3–4, 2018, or has information about the attack is asked to come forward.