Chesterfield man charged in connection to deadly shooting of 15-year-old girl

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A 24-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to a shooting that left a 15-year-old girl dead.

Twenty-four-year-old Luis Manuel Cruz-Alfaro has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection to a shooting that happened on March 2, according to the Chesterfield County Police Department.

Police said officers responded to the 6300 block of Pewter Avenue at 12:22 a.m. on March 2 for the report of a shooting. When they arrived, officers found two people inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds.

One of the victims was a 15-year-old girl who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The other victim was a man who was taken to a local hospital with injuries considered life-threatening.

An initial investigation resulted in the arrest of a man on March 5 -- the man found in the car with the 15-year-old -- who was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection to the death of the 15-year-old girl.

However, as additional evidence was discovered, officials said detectives eventually determined that both victims had reportedly been shot by Cruz-Alfaro.

As a result of this most recent arrest, the initial charges against the man arrested on March 5 have been dropped.

Additionally, the investigation has revealed that the man who was shot and Cruz-Alfaro knew each other.

The investigation into the March 2 shooting is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Chesterfield Police at 804-748-1251.