Man Indicted After Fatal Stabbing At Riverside Traffic Circle: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead man accused of fatally stabbing someone near the Riverside traffic circle last week was indicted Thursday, police said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said that Gelber Lopez Perez, 20, was accused of fatally stabbing Tony Fernando Alvarado Ajcuc, 26, also of Riverhead. On June 6 at about 3 p.m., Lopez Perez was in Grangabel Park in Riverhead, having an argument with one of two friends, when Alvarado Ajcuc showed up to the park and asked why they were arguing, Tierney said.

Lopez Perez and Alvarado Ajcuc then got into a physical altercation, Tierney said.

After the altercation, Alvarado Ajcuc left the park on foot and crossed four lanes of traffic on Nugent Drive, heading toward the nearby traffic circle, the DA said.

Witnesses observed Lopez Perez run after Alvarado Ajcuc, heading across Nugent Drive, and then punch him in the head and neck, causing him to fall to the ground, Tierney said. Lopez Perez then jabbed at and stabbed him with a knife as he lay on the ground in a "defensive posture," police said.

When Lopez Perez learned that police were on the way, he fled toward the park, the DA said. A witness took a photograph of Lopez Perez as he ran from the scene, which was later provided to police, Tierney said.

Alvarado Ajcuc was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, the DA said.

Less than a half hour later, police found and arrested Lopez Perez near Court Street and Griffing Avenue, a short distance from where the homicide occurred, the DA said. Police also reportedly recovered a knife with what appeared to be blood stains from Lopez Perez’s waistband, the DA said.

On Thursday, Lopez Perez was arraigned on the indictment by County Court Judge Stephen Braslow on a charge of second-degree murder, a felony, Tierney said.

Braslow ordered Lopez Perez to be held without bail, Tierney said.

Lopez Perez is due back in court on July 31 and is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald; if convicted of the top count, Lopez Perez faces 25 years to life in prison, Tierney said. Fitzgerald did not immediately return a request for comment.

"The alleged actions of this defendant showed a callous disregard for a human life," said Tierney. "This fatal stabbing happened in the middle of a busy day, just a stone’s throw from the Riverhead courthouse. This alleged crime is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Suffolk County."