For Immediate Release: February 9, 2023

On February 9, 2023, in the Alexandria Circuit Court, Enoc Cruz Villafuerte, a 23-year-old Alexandria resident, pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment alleging Murder in the Second Degree and Shooting in the Commission of Murder in connection with the death of his brother, 24-year-old Jonathan Cruz Villafuerte.

The investigation showed that in the early morning hours of June 6, 2022, Enoc shot his brother Jonathan in chest with a .380 assault-style rifle. The murder happened in Enoc and Jonathan’s father apartment in the 1400 block of North Beauregard Street in the City. Enoc and Jonathan were in the living room of the apartment when the shooting happened. There were no signs of a fight or struggle between Enoc and Jonathan, and Enoc confirmed with police that he and Jonathan were not arguing or fighting prior to him shooting Jonathan.

Jonathan suffered one gunshot wound to the right side of his chest and was pronounced dead on scene.

The sentencing hearing in the case will be held on April 20, 2023. The maximum penalty for Murder in the Second Degree is 40 years in the penitentiary. The maximum penalty for Shooting in the Commission of Murder is five years in prison. There is no parole in Virginia.  

The defendant is incarcerated in the Alexandria Adult Detention Center awaiting sentencing.