Man Accused Of Western Mass Murder Captured In Puerto Rico: DA

A 22-year-old man accused of a fatal shooting in Hampden County before escaping to Puerto Rico will be brought back to face justice three months later, authorities said.

Aleq Rodrigues
Photo Credit: *Hampden District Attorney*

Josh Lanier

09/22/2023 1:26 p.m.

Aleq Rodrigues, of Holyoke, is charged with murder in the killing of 30-year-old Edgar Soto-Irizarry on June 22, the Hampden County District Attorney said.

Soto-Irizarry was found in an apartment building in the 300 block of Appleton Street just before 9:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call after someone heard a gunshot, police said. He died at the scene.

Investigators said evidence led them to believe Rodrigues had pulled the trigger, but he had fled to Puerto Rico soon after the killing.

Holyoke and Mass State police began working with Puerto Rican officials to find him. He was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 21, authorities said.

He remains in Puerto Rice as US officials prepare extradition paperwork. He will be arraigned once he returns.

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