WEST END SHOOTING: Teen Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter of Fellow New Rochelle High School Student

Tommy Rivera will be sentenced to 19 years in New York State prison and 5 years post-release supervision on June 1

WHITE PLAINS, NY (March 26, 2023) — The teenager who ambushed, shot and killed a New Rochelle High School classmate in the West End of New Rochelle has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.

Appearing before Judge Helen M. Blackwood in Westchester County Criminal Court Youth Part on March 17, Tommy Rivera pleaded guilty to Manslaughter – 1 (Intent to Cause Physical Injury), a charge added on March 17 as a reduction from Murder – 1 (Intentional) and in full satisfaction of 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon – 2 (Loaded Firearm).

Rivera will be sentenced on June 1, 2023.

The promised sentence is 19 years in New York State prison and 5 years post-release supervision.

On January 25, 2022, at approximately 3:38 p.m., Rivera shot Oliveros multiple times in front of 81 Fourth Street in New Rochelle, at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Fourth Street in New Rochelle’s West End, two blocks from Christopher Columbus Elementary School. Responding Police Officers administered First Aid and the victim was transported to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla where he underwent emergency surgery and succumbed to his injures.

On January 26, 2022, Rivera was arraigned before Judge Blackwood in Westchester County Criminal Court Youth Part and charged with Murder – 2, an A Felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon – 2 (Loaded Firearm), a C Felony. Bail was set at $1,000,000 Cash / $500,000 Bond. Bail was Not Posted. A Temporary Order Of Protection was issued. Rivera was remanded to Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, NY.

On January 31, 2022, during a Youth Part hearing to determine whether Rivera should be tried as an adult or in Family Court, it emerged that Rivera was walking home from school with a .9 mm ghost gun (which suggests he may have had the gun at school) and he had a “ghost gun factory” in his bedroom with parts to make more.

A review of the accusatory document in open court included seven exhibits that the ADA said more than met the standard of one or more aggravating facts warranting Rivera be tried as an adult.

the felony complaint
the CCTV video from 81 Fourth Street
the police photo of the firearm
the ballistics report
the medical examiner “face sheet”
a one hour and forty minute interview of Rivera at NRPD headquarters by an NRPD detective
a photo of clothing that Rivera was wearing in the at the time of the incident, which were found at his house

In the CCTV video, played by the ADA in open court, Rivera is depicted walking northbound on Fourth Street. He rounded the corner, facing east on Washington Avenue. As Oliveros approached the corner (out of frame), Rivera held the gun with two hands, raised it up, and pointed the gun at Oliveros. As Oliveros walked towards him, into frame, Rivera backed up several feet then fired his weapon repeatedly at Oliveros. After Rivera stopped firing, he turned and ran southbound on Fourth Street. CCTV video from Rivera’s house on Glen Place, not played in court, showed him entering the house four minutes after the shooting wearing the same clothes as in the CCTV video from 81 Fourth Street. Police found gun in Rivera’s waistband that a ballistics report showed was the murder weapon.

On February 16, 2022, Rivera was indicted by a Westchester County Grand Jury for Murder – 2, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, both felonies. Rivera was facing a minimum indeterminate sentence of 15 years to life in state prison and a maximum indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

At 7:30 am on the morning Tommy Rivera shot and killed Julian Oliveros, New Rochelle Police arrested Juan Sanchez, 29, also found to be operating a “ghost gun factory” out of his house on Highland Avenue — less than a 100 feet from Rivera’s house on Glen Place.

Sanchez was arrested as part of Operation Casper, a six-month multi-agency investigation into “ghost guns” and other illegal firearms in Westchester and Putnam Counties. Search warrants were executed on January 25, 2022, at eight locations in Westchester and Putnam by investigators from County, local, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Sanchez was charged by New Rochelle Police with 3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2 (Loaded Firearm), 3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon — 2 (Disguised Gun), Criminal Possession of a Weapon – 3, 40 Counts Unlawful Possession Ammo Feed Device and 4 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon — 3 (Silencer).

Sanchez pleaded guilty on March 8, 2023 to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon – 3 (related to the alleged possession of three or more firearms) in full satisfaction of a 49 count indictment.

Appearing before Judge Maurice D. Williams in Westchester County Criminal Court, Sanchez accepted a negotiated plea. He pleaded guilty to the Criminal Possession of a Weapon charge which comes with a 7-year prison sentence in exchange for a reduced sentence of 3 years in state prison and 3 years of supervised release. Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2023.