On what was supposed to be the start of a new summer job, 17-year-old Emilio Sanchez Maldonado was found shot to death outside his East Patchogue home on July 3, 2018. The young man, who had come to Long Island from El Salvador four years prior, was discovered by his father, Jose Antonio Sanchez, in the early morning hours. Sanchez had grown concerned when his son, who he was supposed to take to his first day of work at a bakery, was not answering his phone.
Upon returning home, he made the grim discovery of his son's body lying next to his bicycle.
The investigation into the death of the fun-loving teen, who was known for his love of soccer, stretched on for ten months. The shooting was described as an ambush-style attack. Family members initially expressed fears that the notorious MS-13 gang might be involved, suggesting that Maldonado may have been targeted for refusing to join their ranks. He had reportedly told his uncle about having trouble with some kids at school who he believed to be gang members.
In May 2019, a breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of 17-year-old Melquisedec Antonio Sanchez-Hernandez of Bellport. Sanchez-Hernandez, a classmate of Maldonado's at Bellport High School, was charged with second-degree murder. Authorities revealed that Sanchez-Hernandez was a known member of the MS-13 gang.
Prosecutors stated that Sanchez-Hernandez had lured Maldonado outside his home through social media before shooting him five times. During a videotaped confession, Sanchez-Hernandez admitted to the killing, stating that the motive was his disapproval of the people Maldonado had begun associating with. Authorities said Maldonado was trying to live a law-abiding life and was killed as a result of the company he kept. At his arraignment, Sanchez-Hernandez pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. It was also revealed that he had a prior criminal record, including an arrest in Virginia for the attempted murder of a rival gang member.
