On a Saturday evening in Copiague, New York, what began as a regular night at a local deli tragically turned into a scene of violence and loss. Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, a 47-year-old male, was inside the La Vaquita Corp. deli on Great Neck Road on December 12, 2020, when a gunman unexpectedly opened fire. Cruz-Hernandez was fatally wounded at the scene, becoming the first victim in a shooting that would ultimately claim two lives and injure two other men.
The owner of the deli, 61-year-old Bolivar Rodriguez, was also shot and succumbed to his injuries a couple of days later. Two other customers, Juan Ramone Avilla Roque, 30, and Daniel E. Acosta, 40, sustained serious injuries but survived.
The investigation into the deadly shooting quickly led Suffolk County police to a suspect. The following day, Dionicio Calderon-Oseguera, a 62-year-old resident of Copiague, was arrested in connection with the incident. Authorities apprehended Calderon-Oseguera as he was attempting to leave his home with a suitcase containing clothes, cash, and jewelry. Further investigation revealed gunshot residue on the sweatshirt he was wearing, and the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting was discovered at his residence. The entire tragic event was captured by the deli's high-definition surveillance cameras.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Dionicio Calderon-Oseguera faced the judicial system for his actions on that December evening. In court, he admitted to the shootings but claimed he was coerced. Prosecutors presented a case that detailed how Calderon-Oseguera had been drinking at the deli before he, without any warning, pulled out a handgun and began shooting. In February 2023, a jury found him guilty of a series of charges, including second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree attempted murder, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The following month, in March 2023, he was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison, ensuring he would face the consequences of his heartless deeds for the remainder of his life.
