Police have arrested the alleged accomplice of a pizza delivery driver charged in connection with the December stabbing of a pregnant customer over a tip dispute.
Hector Manuel Martinez-Figueroa, 28, of Kissimmee, was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder, home invasion with a firearm, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with a weapon with intent to commit a felony.
Martinez-Figueroa, who has a criminal history including theft, drug offenses, and probation violations, was on probation at the time of the incident. His bond was set at $35,000.
His alleged accomplice, Brianna Alvelo, 22, was arrested a day after the Dec. 22 attack and faces identical charges. Alvelo’s bond has been set at $55,000. Court records show a history of traffic offenses, but no other criminal charges.
Both remain held in the Osceola County Jail The incident occurred at the Riviera Motel on East U.S. Highway 192 near Florida’s Turnpike, where deputies responded to a report of a stabbing just before midnight. The victim was found with 14 stab wounds to her chest, legs, arms and abdomen. She was transported to Osceola Regional Hospital, where she discovered she was a few weeks pregnant, for emergency surgery to treat a ruptured lung.
According to investigators the victim, her 5-year-old daughter, and her boyfriend, were staying at the motel to celebrate Brooks’ birthday. They ordered a pizza at around 9:30 p.m. and tipped $2 on a $33.10 bill. Reports said the delivery driver, later identified as Alvelo, “rolled her eyes” before leaving.
About 9:30 p.m., Alvelo and Martinez-Figueroa allegedly returned to the motel room wearing masks and armed with a handgun. Investigators say Martinez-Figueroa forced Brooks into the bathroom at gunpoint while Alvelo attacked the victim with a pocketknife. The suspects also stole $120 from the victims, said reports.
Reports indicate that earlier in the evening, the victim had taken out cash to pay for the pizza, displaying a large amount of money while searching for smaller bills. The delivery driver reportedly told her she didn’t provide change, prompting Irizarry get smaller bills.
Arrest made in New Year’s celebratory gunfire death
Kissimmee Police have made an arrest in connection with the death of a 66-year-old woman struck by gunfire around midnight at New Year’s.
Detectives identified Carlos Manuel Tejada, 44 KPD reports he was arrested Friday and charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence. No information on bail or a first court appearance is yet available through jail or court records.
Officers responded to the home on Gull Court off of Lakeside Drive just west of Simpson Road just after midnight on Jan. 1. A woman, later identified as Carmen Rosa Neira Ochoa, was found with “injuries consistent with a gunshot wound” and was immediately transported to a local hospital, where the victim was pronounced dead.
Police are quick to discourage anyone from using gunfire to mark any sort of celebration, as shooting a gun in the air is dangerous and illegal, and those rounds fired must fall back to the earth and do so with as much or more force as when they leave the gun.
