Gerson Mendoza-Rodriguez, 19, boy, 17, arrested in fatal 2024 Huntington Station stabbing, police say

Suffolk County police have arrested two suspects in connection with a fatal October 2024 stabbing in Huntington Station, according to a department news release.

Gerson Mendoza-Rodriguez, 19, of Hicksville, and a 17-year-old boy from Huntington Station were charged with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree gang assault, police said. Police are withholding the Huntington Station teen's identity because he is a minor.

Justino Alfaro-Avila, 29, of Huntington Station, was stabbed to death Oct. 27, 2024, at about 2 a.m. at a house on Lowndes Avenue, Newsday previously reported. Police also found a 39-year-old man who had been stabbed. He was treated at a hospital and released.

Both Mendoza-Rodriguez and the 17-year-old were to be held overnight Sunday at the Third Precinct, the release stated.

On Monday, Mendoza-Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree gang assault charges before acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Kerr at First District Court in Central Islip, according to court documents. Kerr ordered him held without bail.

The defense attorney listed in court documents as representing Mendoza-Rodriguez did not immediately return a telephone message at his office Monday evening seeking comment.

The 17-year-old, who was 15 at the time of the incident, was expected to be arraigned at the Youth Part of First District Court in Central Islip.

With Nicholas Grasso

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.