Man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2017 death of EMT worker

Jose Gonzalez has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Yadira Arroyo, who was run over with her own ambulance in 2017.

News 12 Staff

Mar 8, 2023, 11:12 AM

Updated 576 days ago

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Jose Gonzalez was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2017 killing of EMT Yadira Arroyo.   
The jury convicted Gonzalez on Wednesday for running over the Bronx EMT with her own ambulance.  
Jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday after weeks of evidence and testimony from dozens of witnesses before making their decision on Wednesday. 
The guilty verdict ends an extensive and emotional ordeal for the family of Arroyo in a case that has lasted six long years. The victim’s family and fellow EMTs embraced each other after the verdict was handed down. 
"We waited six years, through ups and downs. Anger, emotions, agony, but we finally did it," said Ali Acevedo-Hernandez, Arroyo's aunt. 
Prosecutors had been working to prove Gonzalez guilty since March 2017, when Gonzalez jumped into the driver’s seat of a city ambulance and ran over Arroyo twice. The 44-year-old EMT died at the scene shortly after.
During the lengthy trial, dozens of witnesses testified in the case, with prosecutors arguing that Gonzalez knew exactly what he was doing on that day.  
In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Gonzalez was also convicted of vehicular manslaughter and second-degree murder. 
Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5.