Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of JULIO CACHAGO, 53, for killing 76-year-old Yong Li in a fatal hit-and-run on the Lower East Side in December 2025. CACHAGO is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting and one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, among other charges. [1]
“Julio Cachago allegedly left an elderly New Yorker to die in the street after he hit her with his car and drove off without even checking on her condition,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Instead of notifying emergency services immediately, he allegedly only called the police the next day when he discovered his vehicle had been towed. Hit-and-runs are incredibly serious matters, and we are committed to prosecuting this type of callous vehicular violence.”
As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, on December 19, 2025, at approximately 6:56 p.m., CACHAGO was driving a 2020 Ford Edge with a passenger in the front seat on the Lower East Side. CACHAGO let one pedestrian cross in the crosswalk at Clinton and Stanton Streets. Then, Ms. Li attempted to cross with the right of way and the protection of the walk signal. CACHAGO allegedly hit her and proceeded to drive over her. He then briefly paused, before driving off.
Approximately 20 minutes later, CACHAGO pulled over at Liberty and Cedar Streets. He inspected the front of the car for damage and then drove to the Bronx. The NYPD was able to locate the vehicle and tow it that evening. The next day, CACHAGO allegedly called 311 and 911 because his car as missing. He was directed to NYPD’s 7th precinct, where he was arrested.
The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital following the incident, where she was pronounced dead.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.’s Harrison Schweiloch and Kyle Mirabelli, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Assistant D.A.’s Taylor Holland and Meaghan Dunigan also assisted with the investigation.
D.A. Bragg thanked Detective Keith Solomon from the Collision Investigation Squad.
Defendant Information:
JULIO CACHAGO
Queens, New York
Charged:
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Death, a class D felony, one count
- Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class E felony, one count
- The right of Way to Pedestrians and Bicyclists, Physical Injury, one count
- License Restriction Violation, one count
- Failure of a Driver to Exercise Due Care, Serious Physical Injury, one count
- Unlicensed Driving, one count
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.