September 22, 2023 -Holyoke- On Thursday, September 21, 2023, members of the United States Marshals Service apprehended Aleq Rodriguez, 22, of Holyoke in Puerto Rico and in connection with the homicide of Edgar Soto-Irizarry on June 22, 2023.

During the course of the investigation investigators developed probable cause leading to an arrest warrant and charging Aleq Rodriguez with Murder.

Once they confirmed the identity of their suspect, investigators learned he had flown to Puerto Rico in the days after the homicide. Upon learning this, the Mass State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, and Holyoke Police Department began working with authorities in Puerto Rico to locate Aleq Rodriguez leading to yesterday’s arrest.

 The victim has been identified previously identified as Mr. Edgar Soto-Irizarry, 30, of Holyoke.  

On Friday, June 22, 2023, at 9:20 a.m., the Holyoke Police Department received a 9-1-1 call for a reported shooting victim in the 300 block of Appleton Street.

Officers arrived a short time later and located Mr. Soto-Irizarry suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services were performed but were unsuccessful as he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

This incident remains under investigation by the Holyoke Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office’s Murder Unit.

Aleq Rodrigues remains in Puerto Rice waiting to be extradited back to Massachusetts. He will be arraigned once he returns.