In the early evening of September 12, 2025, a dispute on Broadview Terrace in Hartford, Connecticut, tragically escalated, ending the life of 38-year-old Miguel Alfinez, a Hispanic male. Just before 7 p.m., Alfinez was involved in a confrontation with a woman who witnesses say sprayed him with an orange substance. Shortly after, the driver of the Mercedes SUV she was in, identified as Xavier Soto, emerged and shot Alfinez.
Responding police officers found Alfinez gravely wounded.
In a crucial turn of events, before he lost his ability to speak, an officer asked him who was responsible for the shooting. With his final words, Alfinez identified his alleged killer. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead later that evening. The scene of the crime yielded two. 45-caliber shell casings, a hat, a cellphone, and broken eyeglasses, which were collected by investigators.
The investigation swiftly focused on 34-year-old Xavier Soto of Vernon. A license plate reader captured the SUV's plate in Vernon just 25 minutes after the shooting, further aiding police in tracking the vehicle's movements. Within days of the shooting, an arrest warrant was issued for Soto. He surrendered to the Hartford police on September 16 and was subsequently charged with murder, criminal use of a firearm, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was held on a $2 million bond.
The death of Miguel Alfinez, described by his family as a loving son, brother, and father with a kind heart and a bright smile, sent shockwaves through the community. In the wake of his death, his family organized a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses, and neighbors and loved ones gathered for a vigil to mourn their loss.
