Haverstraw police target suspect in fatal shooting, release suspect's photo

Steve Lieberman, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Updated ·2 min read

HAVERSTRAW ‒ Police have identified an 18-year-old man suspected in the fatal shooting of a Pomona man on Monday on Fairmount Avenue.

Yandie Martinez is wanted on felony murder charges of killing Christian Alvarado, 29, whom police officers found lying on the ground next to a vehicle that had crashed into a parked car opposite 9 Fairmount Ave., Police Chief John Gould said.

Officers found Alvarado's body at about 4 p.m. with multiple bullet wounds to his torso, Gould said. The shooting occurred on Fairmount Avenue near West Street.

"The shooting was not random," Gould said. "Suspect and victim knew each other."

Town of Haverstraw Police Department is seeking information on a suspect in the shooting death of Pomona man Christian Alvarado, 29, in Haverstraw, NY, on Monday, July 1, 2024.
Town of Haverstraw Police Department is seeking information on a suspect in the shooting death of Pomona man Christian Alvarado, 29, in Haverstraw, NY, on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Martinez is described by police on a wanted poster as 6-foot, 170 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and tattoos on his neck and forearm. Martinez, a Haverstraw resident, is considered armed and dangerous.

Gould didn't release how the police centered on Martinez during the investigation or what conflicts led to the violence. Police were searching for at least one man.

Gould said "a person of interest was taken into custody on New Main Street" on Monday night "but was interviewed and released."

The intersection of Fairmount Ave. and West St. in Haverstraw on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, is the scene of a shooting. Haverstraw Police responding to gunfire, finding the body of Christian Alvarado, 29, from Pomona, on the ground near with multiple gun shots. Alvarado was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
The intersection of Fairmount Ave. and West St. in Haverstraw on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, is the scene of a shooting. Haverstraw Police responding to gunfire, finding the body of Christian Alvarado, 29, from Pomona, on the ground near with multiple gun shots. Alvarado was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

While emergency responders worked to keep Alvarado alive at the scene and en route to the hospital, he was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

Officers closed off both roads. Haverstraw Ambulance Corps medics responded.

"We are in the early stages of the investigation, attempting to interview witnesses and locate surveillance video of the incident," Gould said Monday night.

The intersection of Fairmount Ave. and West St. in Haverstraw on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, is the scene of a shooting. Haverstraw Police responding to gunfire, finding the body of Christian Alvarado, 29, from Pomona, on the ground near with multiple gun shots. Alvarado was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
The intersection of Fairmount Ave. and West St. in Haverstraw on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, is the scene of a shooting. Haverstraw Police responding to gunfire, finding the body of Christian Alvarado, 29, from Pomona, on the ground near with multiple gun shots. Alvarado was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

The shooting Monday marked the fourth homicide in Rockland in 2024. The others occurred in Stony Point, Spring Valley, and Ramapo. Rockland police investigated four homicides in 2023.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call the Haverstraw Police Department at 845-354-1500.

The area of Fairmount Ave. and West St. in Haverstraw on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, is the scene of a shooting. Haverstraw Police responding to gunfire, finding the body of Christian Alvarado, 29, from Pomona, on the ground near with multiple gun shots. Alvarado was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
The area of Fairmount Ave. and West St. in Haverstraw on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, is the scene of a shooting. Haverstraw Police responding to gunfire, finding the body of Christian Alvarado, 29, from Pomona, on the ground near with multiple gun shots. Alvarado was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

The shooting marked the second death since Gould became chief less than a week ago. A 13-year-old Pomona boy died Wednesday afternoon when a car hit him on his bicycle in what Gould called a tragic accident.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Haverstraw NY fatal shooting: Police seek suspect Yandie Martinez