Man Cleared of Charges in Chaotic Harlem Shootout

The only man arrested in the aftermath of a deadly police shootout after a New York City block party has been cleared of any criminal charge.

Manhattan prosecutors announced Wednesday that a grand jury voted to dismiss all charges against Angel Alvarez in the Aug. 8 incident.

He was freed after being held since August on a weapon-possession charge.

It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone else might be charged. Prosecutors declined to comment.

The melee erupted at around 3 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2010 during a block party in Harlem. Alvarez, 24, got into a fight with Luis Soto and wrestled a gun away from him. Prosecutors said Soto was killed by police bullets. Alvarez miraculously survived a hail of police gunfire. Three bystanders and two police officers were wounded as police fired 46 bullets.

Police had said Alvarez shot at them. Alvarez, who was shot at least 15 times, denies firing at anyone.

Soto, the man Alvarez was fighting, was killed.

Defense lawyer Matthew Galluzzo had argued Alvarez didn't shoot at any police officers. He said the gun belonged to Soto and Alvarez wrestled it away from him in an attempt to save his own life.

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