BAY SHORE, NY – A Bay Shore man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and multiple other charges in connection with a 2025 crash in which prosecutors said he stole an SUV while intoxicated, struck and killed a pedestrian on Main Street and then fled the scene.
Alexander Cerda, 23, of Bay Shore, pleaded guilty on September 30, 2026, to six charges stemming from the March 8, 2025 death of Eric Perez, 52, also of Bay Shore, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents and Cerda’s admissions during his guilty plea, the incident began at approximately 2 a.m. when Cerda broke a window at a Bay Shore residence and stole an unlocked Toyota RAV4 from the driveway. Prosecutors said surveillance video from the property captured Cerda, who was intoxicated, driving away in the vehicle.
About 10 minutes later, Cerda was driving westbound on Main Street near Shore Lane at a high rate of speed with the vehicle’s headlights off when he struck Perez, according to prosecutors. The impact threw Perez a considerable distance down the roadway.
Authorities said Cerda stopped and exited the SUV following the collision. While bystanders attempted to help Perez, prosecutors said Cerda took several photographs of the damage to the vehicle.
Perez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors Say Cerda Fled as Police Arrived
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Cerda returned to the stolen Toyota and drove away when police arrived at the crash scene.
Detectives located the damaged RAV4 the following day in the parking lot of an apartment complex near Cerda’s residence. He was arrested on March 12, 2025.
Cerda was later indicted on manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and other charges. At the time of the indictment, prosecutors alleged that he had been intoxicated while driving the stolen vehicle and had left the scene after striking Perez.
The case occurred in Suffolk County, where the prosecution was handled by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Cerda Pleads Guilty to Six Charges
On September 30, Cerda pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, third-degree grand larceny, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said Cerda’s actions began with the theft of the vehicle and continued through the fatal collision and his decision to leave the scene rather than remain while others attempted to assist Perez.
“Every decision this defendant made on March 8, 2025, was worse than the next,” Tierney said. “While drunk, he stole a car and sped away without headlights.”
Tierney said Cerda ultimately admitted responsibility through his guilty plea.
Sentencing Scheduled for January
Cerda is scheduled to return to court on January 8, 2027, for sentencing. According to the District Attorney’s Office, he is expected to receive a prison sentence of 6 to 18 years.
Key Facts & Details
| Defendant | Alexander Cerda, 23, of Bay Shore |
| Victim | Eric Perez, 52, of Bay Shore |
| Crash Date | March 8, 2025 |
| Location | Main Street near Shore Lane, Bay Shore |
| Vehicle | Stolen Toyota RAV4 |
| Guilty Plea | September 30, 2026 |
| Charges | Second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene, third-degree grand larceny, DWI and reckless driving |
| Sentencing Date | January 8, 2027 |
| Expected Sentence | 6 to 18 years in prison, according to prosecutors |
The guilty plea resolves the criminal charges against Cerda without a trial. His sentence will be formally imposed when he returns to court in January.
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