Downtown, Polish Town shooter headed to prison
An 18-year-old Guatemalan immigrant who shot two people in separate incidents in Riverhead last year pleaded guilty Friday to all eight weapons and assault charges he was facing, court records show.
Juan Soyos-Pixtun pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree attempted assault, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of second-degree assault, said Robert Clifford, a spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota.
The DA’s office will recommend Mr. Soyos-Pixtun serve seven years in prison and five years of post release supervision, Mr. Clifford said. The office has also suggested that permanent orders of protection be issued for the victims of Mr. Soyos-Pixtun’s shootings.
He shot a man on West Main Street on Nov. 4 and another man in the leg on Nov. 10 in Polish Town.
The West Main Street victim, Oscar Alvarado, was shot about 9:50 p.m. during an argument outside a small West Main Street shopping center that houses a laundromat, barber shop and Latino delicatessen. Mr. Soyos-Pixtun fled the scene on foot.
Oscar Alvarado had checked himself into Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment after the incident.
Six days later, Mr. Soyos-Pixtun brandished a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun, allegedly yelled “I kill you!” and shot Edgar Bautista in the leg at Pulaski Street and Marcy Avenue about 10:30 p.m., court records show.
Officers found Mr. Bautista lying on the ground, writhing in pain after being shot in his upper leg. A witness at the scene identified the shooter as Mr. Soyos Pixtun, who was arrested soon after.
The teenager was arraigned on attempted murder charges in addition to the assault and weapons charges Nov. 11, but a grand jury later dropped the attempted murder charges.
“The grand jury reviewed the evidence, it carefully listened to testimony and elected to charge the defendant with assault and weapons possessions charges,” Mr. Clifford explained last December.
He will be sentenced on June 12 before Judge Mark Cohen, Mr. Clifford said.
Mr. Soyos-Pixtun was granted permanent resident status in December 2010 — not U.S. citizenship, as was indicated in prior reports — and will be deported after serving his prison term, prosecutors confirmed this week.
See Thursday’s News-Review newspaper for additional information.
