Crime and Courts

Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism.

Man Charged in Two Long Island Murders, Including Machete-Hacking Death

Published February 19, 2020 • Updated on February 19, 2020 at 10:51 pm

Picture of empty judge's seat with American flag in the background. — Stock Photo

A man has been charged in the killing of two men, including one who was hacked to death with a machete in New York state's Long Island, police said Wednesday.

Carlos Alfaro, 22, of Roosevelt, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Alfaro was arrested in connection with the death of Josue Amaya Leonor, 19, whose remains were found in a wooded area of the Roosevelt Preserve in May 2018, Nassau County police said in a statement.

Two alleged MS-13 gang members, Josue Figueroa-Velazquez and Kevin Lopez-Morales, were previously indicted in connection with Leonor's death.

Police said they also determined that Alfaro is responsible for the death of Carlos Ulises Ventura-Zelaya, who was killed in October 2016.

It was not immediately clear if Alfaro is represented by an attorney.

Court records show Lopez-Morales is due back in court on Feb. 26. Figueroa-Velazquez is due back on March 23.