Edwin Farley Alvarado Quintero

Edwin Farley Alvarado Quintero was a 49-year-old man from Woodbridge, Ontario, who was dedicated to his family and his passion for soccer. Remembered by loved ones and his community, he was a husband to his wife, Alexandra, and a father to two teenage daughters. Quintero was well-known in the local sports scene, where he spent his time doing what he loved as a soccer referee. His life was defined by his commitment to his family and the game, a life that was violently and senselessly cut short while he was at work.

On the evening of Sunday, October 9, 2022, Quintero was officiating a match at the La Liga Sports Complex, an indoor soccer facility on Finch Avenue West in North York. At approximately 7:20 p.m., a dispute broke out among players on the field. The argument quickly and tragically escalated into gunfire. In the chaos that followed, three men were struck by bullets. Emergency services rushed to the scene and transported the victims to the hospital. Quintero, gravely wounded, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. One of the other men suffered life-threatening injuries, while the third sustained serious but non-life-threatening wounds.

The Toronto Police Service’s Homicide and Missing Persons Unit immediately took charge of the investigation. Detectives found multiple shell casings at the scene and began the process of identifying those responsible for the brazen act of violence. Futsal Canada, an indoor soccer organization, described the incident as a "terrible and senseless act of violence," confirming that Quintero was simply doing his job when the fight erupted and shots were fired into the venue. Initially, police released images of four persons of interest they sought to identify.

On October 27, 2022, investigators announced a major break in the case, issuing an arrest warrant for Cristian Adolfo Cuxum, a 19-year-old from Toronto. Cuxum was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Edwin Quintero and two counts of attempted murder for the wounding of the other two victims. Despite being identified, Cuxum evaded capture and became a fugitive.

The community rallied around Quintero's grieving family. A fellow referee started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs, which raised over $18,600. The local soccer and Latino communities, in partnership with Toronto police, also organized a charity futsal tournament in his honor to support his wife and daughters. At a press conference, Quintero's wife, Alexandra Barrera, delivered a heart-wrenching message to the man who killed her husband. "You destroyed us," she said. "You destroyed our family. You destroyed our plans. Our dreams. Our sense of safety. Our everything... If you turn yourself in, you will allow us to take our next step forward in this nightmare."

By May 2023, the hunt for Cristian Cuxum had intensified. He was placed at the top of the Bolo Program's "Top 25 Most Wanted" list in Canada. In cooperation with the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Crime Stoppers, the Bolo Program announced a reward of up to $250,000 for any information leading directly to Cuxum's arrest. Officials stressed that the reward would be paid for a tip leading to his capture, regardless of whether a conviction is ultimately secured.

As of May 2023, Cristian Adolfo Cuxum remains at large and is considered one of Canada's most wanted fugitives. His actions left a family shattered and a community in mourning over the loss of a man killed while refereeing a game. The substantial reward for his capture remains active, a testament to the ongoing effort to bring justice to Edwin Farley Alvarado Quintero and his family. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cristian Cuxum is urged to contact Toronto Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).