Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the guilty plea of JOSE RODRIGUEZ, 56, for attempting to shoot his 38-year-old ex-girlfriend and killing her 19-year-old nephew, Ramon Alvarez, in East Harlem in April 2024. RODRIGUEZ pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Burglary in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Under the terms of his plea, RODRIGUEZ is expected to be sentenced to a promised term of 18 years-to-life in state prison on December 15, 2026.
“Ramon Alvarez was brutally murdered while trying to protect his aunt from her ex-boyfriend,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Jose Rodriguez fatally shot Mr. Alvarez, then shot at his ex-girlfriend, who thankfully survived but had to witness the murder of her courageous nephew. With this plea, Rodriguez has been held accountable for his actions, which devastated this family.”
As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, on April 10, 2024, at approximately 3:00 a.m., RODRIGUEZ went to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in the New York City Housing Authority’s Jefferson Houses, near East 112th Street and 3rd Avenue. While inside the apartment, he argued with his ex-girlfriend, and she eventually demanded that he leave.
Hearing the commotion, Mr. Alvarez tried intervening in the dispute. At approximately 3:20 a.m., RODRIGUEZ took out a firearm and shot Mr. Alvarez, striking his abdomen. RODRIGUEZ then aimed and fired a shot towards his ex-girlfriend, grazing her shoulder.
Mr. Alvarez was transported to Harlem Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He was pronounced dead later that day.
RODRIGUEZ fled the scene and was arrested the next day in the Bronx.
Assistant D.A.s Austin Minogue (Deputy Chief of the Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Bureau) and Kaitlyn Laurie (IPSV Bureau) are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Vanessa Puzio (Chief of IPSV Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division). Investigative Analyst Libby Ix (IPSV Bureau) and the counselors of the Office’s Survivor Services Bureau (SSB) are providing invaluable assistance in the prosecution. Former Assistant D.A. Charlotte Armour and former Investigative Analysts Eva Nikitovic and Katherine Burke also assisted.
D.A. Bragg thanked the New York City Police Department (NYPD), particularly Sergeant Tyesha McCloud of the 25th Precinct (formerly of the 23rd Precinct Detective Squad), Detective William Dunn (23rd Precinct Detective Squad) and Detective Joseph Rivera (Regional Fugitive Task Force).
Defendant Information:
JOSE RODRIGUEZ
New York, NY
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
- Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
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