Rockland County man shot, car crashes into parked car: police

HAVERSTRAW, NY (PIX11) – A wild and deadly chain of events unfolded in a small Rockland County community.

According to police, a heated argument ended with a man being shot in his car and then driving off the road.

“The rear window of the car had no glass at all, which means they shot from behind,” said witness Julio Ortiz.

His daughter heard the shots and told her parents to lie down on the ground.

“I saw him from outside the car and saw him slumped over, so I didn’t try to do anything,” Adaris Ortiz said.

The victim, 29-year-old Christian Alvarado of Pomona, crashed into a parked car after losing consciousness in front of the Ortiz family home on Fairmount Avenue.

“All I saw was the vehicle cornering at high speed and colliding with the other vehicle,” said Junior Borgen, who heard the shots while working at a nearby auto repair shop.

According to police, a gunman is believed to have targeted downtown Alvarado in broad daylight.

“There was an argument between the victim and the suspect. The victim eventually got into his vehicle; the suspect ran toward him and fired shots at the vehicle,” said Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould.

Investigators discovered evidence that supports their belief that this was not a random attack.

“We had video surveillance documenting their interactions. It appeared as though they knew each other. Then an argument broke out and escalated from there,” Chief Gould explained.

The neighbors are worried about everyone’s safety, including the children who are on summer vacation. “It was very frightening. There were children riding their bikes,” said Borgen.

Junior Mendia, 11, went back into the house.

“I was afraid something bad might happen, so I made sure to lock the windows and doors,” Mendia said.

Investigators and witnesses said the shooter walked away quietly after the cold-blooded murder.

The police said they had concrete information about the identity of the suspect.

Authorities are asking the public with information about the homicide to call Haverstraw police at (845) 354-1500.