On a cold January morning in Ellenville, New York, the life of 56-year-old Margarita A. Soto was tragically cut short in a violent act of domestic violence. Born in Puerto Rico, Margarita was a loving mother and grandmother who was an active member of the Mahanaim Pentecostal Church in Monticello. She found joy in creative pursuits like crocheting, painting, and crafts, as well as cooking and spending cherished moments with her family.
The tragic events unfolded on Thursday, January 11, 2018, in the parking lot of the Canal Lock Apartments. Margarita and her new boyfriend, Jose Cruz, were ambushed by her former longtime partner, Efrain Lopez. Lopez, who was a Village of Ellenville trustee and a 30-year employee of the Ellenville school district, had been in a long-term relationship with Soto that had recently ended.
Armed with a rifle, Lopez followed the couple to the apartment complex. As Cruz exited his vehicle, Lopez shot and killed him. He then turned his weapon on Margarita, fatally shooting her through the passenger side window of the car before taking his own life at the scene. The incident prompted a temporary lockdown of nearby schools as a precaution.
The investigation, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, determined the motive to be an ongoing domestic dispute. Despite the violent end to their relationship, police had no prior records of domestic abuse involving Lopez. The community was left in shock and mourning over the sudden and tragic loss of Margarita Soto and Jose Cruz at the hands of a well-known local official.
