8-month pregnant woman died in front of her 6-and-15-year-old children after her ex-boyfriend she confronted outside her home shot her 3 times in the head; boyfriend sentenced
New York – In a harrowing event in New York that has left a community reeling, a 43-year-old man, identified as J. Soriano, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, identified as S. Young. This devastating crime, committed in September 2021, occurred in a moment meant for celebration—the anticipated birth of Young’s third child with family and friends.
DA A. Bragg announced that Soriano, who had been previously involved in a relationship with Young, ambushed her and her family as they returned from a joyful baby shower. The crime scene was the street where Young lived, a place that turned from a site of potential welcome to one of sudden violence.
According to trial evidence, Young, who was just weeks away from giving birth, arrived at her apartment building with family and friends in the early hours of September 12, 2021. As they unloaded gifts, Soriano appeared on a motorcycle, dressed in black and wearing latex gloves. Armed and dangerous, he initially chased a male friend of Young’s throughout the building. The incident escalated rapidly when Young approached Soriano to confront him. Despite her pleas, Soriano coldly fired three shots into her head at point-blank range, ensuring fatal injuries to both her and her unborn child. The horrific act was witnessed by four children, including Young’s two daughters, ages 15 and 6, who helplessly watched as their mother was brutally killed in front of them.
Soriano fled the scene but was apprehended a few days later. His capture brought little solace to those affected by the tragedy. Throughout his trial and subsequent sentencing, he maintained a controversial stance, claiming violations of his “constitutional rights” and suggesting that he was framed for the murder he committed.
During the sentencing hearing, Soriano attempted to invoke legal precedents to challenge the enhancements to his sentence, but to no avail. Assistant District Attorney E. Ching highlighted Soriano’s lack of remorse, a sentiment echoed by the victim’s family in their heart-wrenching testimonies. The judge, acknowledging the severity of the crime and its lasting impact on the family and community, imposed a strict sentence. Soriano will have the possibility of parole only after serving 40 years, with additional suspended sentences looming for related charges.
District Attorney Bragg emphasized the case as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the lasting trauma inflicted on survivors and witnesses. This sentencing, while providing legal closure, leaves a community and a family to grapple with the grief of a joyous occasion turned tragic. As the case concludes legally, the emotional and psychological recovery for those affected continues—a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impacts of violence.
