A Salvadoran national has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the fatal shooting of his housemate in Bay Shore, authorities announced.
Darwin Josue Maldonado Vanegas, 32, was convicted in March after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and weapons charges in the April 2025 killing of 24-year-old Daniel Nunez-Hernandez.
He was formally sentenced to the maximum term of 25 years to life, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
Prosecutors said the shooting occurred April 3, 2025, at a shared residence, where both men rented separate rooms.
Police responding to the home around 11:20 p.m. found Nunez-Hernandez with gunshot wounds to his chest and arm, along with two 9mm shell casings nearby.
Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots earlier that day, and tenants later discovered the victim’s body in the basement.
Investigators tied Maldonado Vanegas to the scene and recovered a loaded 9mm magazine hidden in his bedroom.
Authorities said he fled New York after the killing, withdrew cash, and traveled through Atlantic City before heading to Miami, where he was arrested May 7, 2025.
Tierney said the defendant’s attempt to evade justice ultimately failed, crediting investigators for locating and apprehending him.
Maldonado Vanegas was also convicted of second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Federal immigration authorities have indicated they will seek his deportation following completion of his sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Chiuchiolo and Eric Aboulafia, with the investigation led by Suffolk County police homicide detectives.
Officials said the conviction followed a full jury trial before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz, who presided over the proceedings and later imposed sentence.
Authorities emphasized the case underscores ongoing efforts to hold violent offenders accountable and deliver justice for victims and their families.