Suffolk Reporter

Gelber Lopez Perez, 20, of Riverhead, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree. The sentence was announced by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.

"This defendant took a life in a brazen act of violence that occurred in full view of our community. Violence like this is unacceptable," said District Attorney Tierney. "Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family, and we hope that this resolution brings them some measure of closure."

The incident occurred on June 6, 2023, at approximately 3:00 p.m., when Lopez Perez was arguing with a friend in Grangabel Park in Riverhead. When Tony Fernando Alvarado Ajcuc, 26, also of Riverhead, arrived at the park and questioned the argument, he and Lopez Perez got into a physical altercation.

Following the altercation, Alvarado Ajcuc left the park on foot and crossed Nugent Drive toward a nearby traffic circle. Lopez Perez pursued him, knocked him to the ground, and stabbed him while he was in a defensive posture. An eyewitness captured a photograph of Lopez Perez fleeing the scene.

Alvarado Ajcuc was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. Less than half an hour later, police arrested Lopez Perez near Court Street and Griffing Avenue and recovered the blood-stained knife from his waistband.

Lopez Perez pleaded guilty on June 27, 2024, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow. On September 10, 2024, Judge Braslow handed down the sentence.

Ian Fitzgerald represented Lopez Perez as his attorney. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau with Detective Michael Ronca leading the investigation for Suffolk County Police Department's Homicide Squad.