3 busted after NYPD manhunt in chaotic Bronx subway shooting

Three people were arrested in the senseless shooting death of a 45-year-old straphanger gunned down aboard a Bronx subway train last week, police said.

Justin Herde, 24, Betty Cotto, 38, and Alfredo Trinidad, 42, were busted and the suspected murder weapon confiscated by the US Marshals Service in the death of William Alvarez, who was shot on a southbound D train as it pulled into the 182 -183 Streets station at around 5 a.m. on Friday, police said.

The trio of suspects were each charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

One of the alleged perps immediately sat down next to the victim, and the two soon got into a heated argument, police said.

“They both stand up and then the words turn physical,” NYPD Assistant Chief Jerry O’Sullivan said on Friday, adding that the fight quickly became “three on one” when the two other suspects joined in.

One of the suspects then shot Alvarez at least once in the torso, before the trio ran off as the train pulled into the station.

Alvarez was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A medical examiner has since confirmed he was shot, following speculation that he may have been stabbed instead.

All three suspects were picked up by cops and US Marshals inside a Bronx apartment and taken into custody by the NYPD — with the suspected murder weapon seized during the raid, law enforcement sources said.

Ralph Sozio, US Marshal for the Southern District of New York, praised the collaborative effort before federal and local law enforcement.

“Once again, the unrivaled investigative efforts and experience from all elements of federal and local law enforcement quickly led to the arrest of all three shooters,” Sozio said. “This is a true testament that we will be relentless in our pursuit to bring you to justice, making our city streets and subways safe for all.”

At a briefing Monday, NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said subway crime spiked by 45% in January — driven largely by grand larcenies — but has eased by about 17% so far this month.

“Spikes happen,” the chief told reporters.

Kemper expressed frustration that repeat offenders are often behind the surge in transit crime.

“We find ourselves arresting the same individuals over and over again,” he told reporters. “Why are we forced to arrest a guy like 55 times?”