Miguel Alfinez, 38, was shot and killed after a dispute on Broadview Terrace in Hartford on the evening of September 12, 2025. Witnesses say a woman sprayed him with an orange substance shortly before the driver of a Mercedes SUV, identified as 34-year-old Xavier Soto of Vernon, emerged and shot Alfinez. Officers found Alfinez gravely wounded; before losing the ability to speak he identified his alleged killer. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead later that evening.

Investigators recovered two .45-caliber shell casings, a hat, a cellphone, and broken eyeglasses at the scene. A license plate reader captured the SUV’s plate in Vernon about 25 minutes after the shooting, and an arrest warrant for Soto was issued days later. Soto surrendered to Hartford police on September 16 and was charged with murder, criminal use of a firearm, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree reckless endangerment; he was held on $2 million bond.

Family described Alfinez as a loving son, brother, and father. A GoFundMe was set up for funeral expenses and neighbors held a vigil. If anyone witnessed the shooting or has information about the events on Broadview Terrace that evening, please come forward.