Riverhead man, 20, sentenced to 22 years after manslaughter plea in fatal stabbing last June

A 20-year-old Riverhead man was sentenced to 22 years in prison yesterday following his June 27 guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter in the stabbing death of a man near the Riverside traffic circle last year.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced the sentencing yesterday of Gelber Lopez Perez by Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Braslow. 

Lopez Perez and a friend were involved in an argument in Grangebel Park in Riverhead on the afternoon of June 6, 2023. The stabbing victim, Tony Fernando Alvarado Ajcuc, 26, arrived at the park and asked the two men why they were arguing, according to prosecutors.  

Lopez Perez and the victim got into a physical altercation and Alvarado Ajcuc left the park, crossed Nugent Drive and headed toward the traffic circle, Tierney said. 

Lopez Perez ran after Alvarado Ajcuc and knocked him to the ground, then stabbed him with a knife “as the victim laid on the ground in a defensive posture,” Tierney said.  Lopez Perez then fled back toward the park.

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

An eyewitness took a photograph of Lopez Perez as he ran from the scene, which was later provided to the police, Tierney said. The victim was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Less than a half hour later, police found and arrested Lopez Perez near Court Street and Griffing Avenue, a short distance from where the homicide occurred, the D.A. said. 

Police also recovered the knife, which still had blood stain on it, from Lopez Perez’s waistband, according to prosecutors.

Lopez Perez will have five years of post-release supervision after his imprisonment, according to the plea.