In the early hours of September 11, 2024, the quiet of Wayside Lane in Wantagh, New York, was broken by the discovery of a body on the side of the road. Nassau County police officers, responding to a call at approximately 12:13 a.m., found 32-year-old Yinauri Antonio Taveras with a fatal gunshot wound. Taveras, a male originally from Amityville, had recently been dividing his time between Westbury and Puerto Rico, and was on Long Island visiting family.
The investigation into the death
of Taveras, who was a husband and the father of a young son, revealed a calculated plot. Authorities determined that the events leading to his death began earlier in the evening of September 10. A group of individuals spotted Taveras at an establishment in Bay Shore and proceeded to follow him. Near the Southern State Parkway exit ramp to Wantagh Avenue, the pursuers intentionally caused a rear-end collision with Taveras's vehicle. When he pulled over on Wayside Lane to inspect the damage, he was ambushed, robbed, and then shot. Investigators believe the motive stemmed from a dispute over a payment for items Taveras had purchased from the group, and have stated the incident was not related to drugs or gang activity.
In the months following the homicide, law enforcement made progress in bringing those responsible to justice. On December 4, 2024, police arrested Anderson Ramirez, 34, of Central Islip, and Alex R. DeLarosa, 27, of Bay Shore. Both men were subsequently charged with second-degree murder and second-degree robbery. At their arraignment on December 5 at the First District Court in Hempstead, they both pleaded not guilty and were ordered to be held without bail.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek at least two other suspects in connection with the crime. The Nassau County Police Department has identified Johnny Rodriguez, also known as 'Flaco,' and Elvin Rosario, known as 'Fling,' as individuals wanted for their alleged involvement in the robbery and murder of Yinauri Antonio Taveras. A reward has been offered for information that leads to their arrests, as the search for all responsible parties continues.
