In the early hours of October 31, 2020, a dispute following a motor vehicle accident in Rochester, New York, turned deadly, claiming the life of 33-year-old David Alvarez. The altercation escalated dramatically when Steven Berrios-Rivera shot Alvarez thirteen times. Although Alvarez was privately transported to Rochester General Hospital, he succumbed to the gunshot wounds to his upper body shortly after his arrival.
At the time of the incident, Alvarez and Berrios-Rivera were strangers to each other.
Following the shooting, Steven Berrios-Rivera, a resident of Pennsylvania, fled New York State. An extensive investigation by the Rochester Police Department led to his identification as the suspect four months later. He was located in York, Pennsylvania, and subsequently extradited back to Monroe County to face charges.
On March 15, 2022, Steven Berrios-Rivera, who was 27 years old at the time, pleaded guilty to Murder in the 2nd Degree for the death of David Alvarez. This plea was part of an agreement that took his responsibility for the fatal shooting into account. Officials, including the Monroe County District Attorney, acknowledged the tragic and senseless nature of the violence that stemmed from a minor traffic incident. Berrios-Rivera was scheduled for sentencing on May 24, 2022.
