Driver Charged with Murder After Fatally Striking Teen in Queens

Fatal Hit-and-Run in Queens

• 💔 A 16-year-old girl, Johanni Alvarez, was killed after being intentionally struck by an SUV on Roosevelt Avenue in Elmhurst, Queens.
• 🚗 The incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. on a Saturday, when the driver, identified as 38-year-old Edwin Cruz Gomez, allegedly drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk.

Allegations of Prostitution and Altercation

• 💡 Prosecutors state the victim and her mother were propositioned for sex by the driver.
• 🗣️ An altercation ensued when the victim's mother's boyfriend intervened after the driver offered them money.
• 🎯 The family was reportedly targeted because they refused the driver's advances.

Driver's Actions and Charges

• 💥 Following the altercation, the gray Suburban SUV sped up, hit the group, and pinned the teen underneath.
• 🏃 The driver then fled the scene in reverse, crashing into another car while driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
• ⚖️ Edwin Cruz Gomez has been charged with murder, attempted murder, vehicular manslaughter, and assault.

Victim and Family Impact

• 🇻🇪 Johanni Alvarez had been in the United States for three years, having emigrated from Venezuela.
• 😢 Her mother was visibly distraught and required medical attention after identifying her daughter's body.
• 🕯️ A memorial has been set up across the street from where the tragic incident took place.
• 🎤 The family has stated they are too distraught to comment at this time.