A lawful permanent resident from El Salvador was found guilty of fatally shooting another man last year.
“Today, a Suffolk County jury returned a guilty verdict against this defendant for murdering Mr. Nunez-Hernandez and then fleeing the state in an attempt to avoid responsibility,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Today’s decision affirms that violence in our community will be met with firm and determined prosecution. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the jurors for their careful review of the evidence. I also want to thank Suffolk County homicide detectives and the City of Miami Police Department for assisting us in bringing this defendant to justice.”
On April 3, 2025, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Suffolk County police responded to a home in Bay Shore, where they discovered 24-year-old Daniel Nunez-Hernandez’ body. Officers saw the victim had gunshot wounds to his chest and arm, and two nine-millimeter shell casings that were recovered near his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Darwin Josue Maldonado Vanegas and the victim were renting separate rooms in the same house. Witnesses heard two gunshots coming from the basement of the home earlier that morning.
Later in the day, when the other tenants in the home returned from work, they discovered the victim’s body on a couch in the basement and called the police.
Records revealed that Vanegas Maldonado had been present at the incident location earlier in the day, at approximately the same time that the gunshots were heard. Additionally, a magazine loaded with 12 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition was recovered between the mattress and box spring of Maldonado Vanegas’ bed.
Further investigation revealed that after the murder, Maldonado Vanegas fled New York and withdrew a substantial amount of money from his bank account. While he was in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Maldonado Vanegas discontinued using his cell phone and obtained a second cellphone. He then fled to Miami, Florida, where he was apprehended on May 7, 2025, by members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad and members of the City of Miami Police Department.
On March 17, 2026, Maldonado Vanegas was found guilty after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz of the following charges:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A-I felony
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony
Maldonado Vanegas is due back in court on April 16, 2026, and faces up to 32 years to life in prison.