On Saturday, October 10th, 2020, at approximately 1:30 AM, members of the Yonkers Police Department responded to the area of Lawrence Street on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival officers located a male victim inside the lobby of 19 Lawrence Street with a gunshot wound to his torso; First Responders immediately rendered medical aid and CPR to the victim, and he was transported to a local area hospital where he ultimately died from his injury. Officers cordoned off the area and initiated a criminal investigation.
Detectives from the Major Case Squad and Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene to interview subjects and witnesses, recover surveillance video, and process forensic and ballistic evidence. Investigation yielded that the victim was walking on Lawrence Street when a Mercedes Benz sedan occupied by two men stopped several yards past the victim; both men exited the vehicle and both fired multiple handgun shots in the direction of the victim, striking him in the torso; the men then reentered the vehicle and fled the scene. The victim ran and collapsed inside the lobby 19 Lawrence Street. Investigators developed information later that day establishing the identity of the gunman who was operating the vehicle, and further identified a person of interest as the passenger. Over the next several months, working together with prosecutors from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, a grand jury was convened and ultimately indicted the operator on murder charges. Investigators are continuing to develop information to establish probable cause for criminal charges against the passenger.
On Monday, October 4th, 2021, members of the Yonkers Police, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, located the operator at a residence on Hawthorne Avenue this City and placed him into custody without incident. He is identified at Jonathan PLANAS, a 32-year-old resident of North Broadway this City.
Police Commissioner John J. Mueller stated, “There is no more heinous an act than taking someone’s life, and in this case not one but two violent individuals opened fire in a densely populated neighborhood, killing their innocent target and placing surrounding residents in great danger. I commend the outstanding work of our Police Officers, Detectives, and law enforcement partners in delivering one of the perpetrators into the Criminal Justice System, where he must now face the consequences of his actions and be held to the maximum sentencing allowed by law. And let me say to the second gunman: you’re next.”
PLANAS was booked on charges including Murder 2, a Class A-I Violent Felony in the New York State Penal Law; and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2, a Class C Violent Felony in the New York State Penal Law. PLANAS was remanded into the custody of the Westchester County Department of Corrections pending his next court appearance. The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Additional information may be released as it becomes available.
The victim is identified as Alvaro Vigueras, a 20-year-old resident of Saratoga Avenue this City. The City of Yonkers and Yonkers Police Department offer their sincere condolences to his family and friends.
