Story by Ethan
On July 29th, 2026, the arrest of Luis Belis, age 25, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Luis Belis was charged with first and second-degree Murder, and two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon. The arrest and charges against Luis Belis were a result of an investigation handled by the New York Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, and the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, in January 2026 Luis Belis was hired by an unknown relative for a scheme to murder Corona, New York, resident Jairo Vinces-Cobena who he’d never met. An introduction between the defendant and a man he believed to be in Ecuador contracted the killing for a payment of $20,000. Prior to the incident Luis Belis purchased and acquired a pre-paid cellphone to be in contact with the contractor through the online messaging application WhatsApp which allowed them to hide their identities. Luis Belis then traveled between Georgia and New York several times from January to March of 2026 but continuously backed out of carrying out the shooting.
On March 12th, 2026, Luis Belis allegedly drove to New York from Georgia in a gray Ford Explorer while acquiring a firearm sometime during the day. The next day at approximately 7:15 p.m. Luis Belis parked the Ford Explorer in the area of 51st Avenue between 96th Street and 97th Street in Corona, New York. The defendant exited the vehicle wearing all black clothing and a purple mask to cover up his face. He then rode a stand-up scooter towards 98th street and 55th avenue, then continuing to circle around the block until encountering 37-year-old Jairo Vinces-Cobena. Luis Belis then allegedly took out a firearm and fired multiple shots that hit the victim in the body and head.
Responding officers discovered Jairo Vinces-Cobena lying unresponsive on the sidewalk bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head, in addition to five 9mm shell casings that were recovered. Two nearby vehicles were also observed to have sustained ballistic damage. Emergency personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he was ultimately pronounced dead. After the incident Luis Belis returned to the parked vehicle with the scooter before driving away. The defendant was located and apprehended on March 17th, 2026 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The arresting officers also recovered a 9mm firearm, a cellphone, and electric scooter from inside the defendant’s vehicle. It’s alleged that Luis Belis also attempted, but failed, several times to contact the client in Ecuador to collect his due payment of $20,000.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Luis Belis are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
