In the early hours of March 31, 2018, a violent altercation erupted at the 105 Grados lounge and restaurant on Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, New York, which ultimately claimed the life of 25-year-old Herminio Torres. The dispute began inside the establishment at approximately 3:20 a.m. and quickly spilled out into the street. Amid the chaos, Torres was shot in the chest.
The brawl continued to move down the road, where Torres was reportedly assaulted by numerous individuals and shot three more times, including once in the back of the head.
Emergency services responded to the scene, and the Lindenhurst Fire Department transported Torres to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was pronounced dead. The violent encounter left four other men injured. One 26-year-old man also suffered a gunshot wound but was able to transport himself to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Three other men, ages 23, 28, and 35, sustained stab wounds during the fight and were also taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the homicide led Suffolk County police to identify Hector Gonzalez, a 27-year-old from Huntington Station, as the primary suspect in the shooting death of Herminio Torres. Gonzalez was arrested in Huntington Station on May 15, 2018, and charged with second-degree murder. Authorities stated that the bar was a known hangout for gang members and that they believed the fight involved a collection of individuals with gang affiliations. Prosecutors reported that Gonzalez admitted to being a member of the Latin Kings street gang.
Following his arrest, Hector Gonzalez was arraigned and held without bail. While his attorney maintained his innocence at the time, Gonzalez eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. In January 2019, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the death of Herminio Torres.
