Story by Ethan
On May 8th, 2026, the arrest of Paublo Torres, age 21, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Paublo Torres was charged with first-degree Reckless Endangerment, second-degree Murder, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Assault, and second-degree Menacing. The arrest and charges against Paublo Torres were a result of an investigation handled by the New York Police Department’s 103rd Precinct.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 1:39 a.m. on February 21st, 2026, both Paublo Torres and the victim, 34-year-old Denis Enrique Reyes-Nunez, were both at the El Catracho bar located on Jamaica Avenue in Hollis, New York. Around this time a bar fight ensued which led to Denis Enrique Reyes-Nunez being forcibly removed from the premises by a bouncer. The victim attempted to get back inside the bar when Paublo Torres allegedly pulled out a gun held in his waistband, walked to the front door, and fired a shot as the manager held the door closed from inside the bar. The bullet grazed the manager on the side of his face before Denis Enrique Reyes-Nunez walked back into the bar. Paublo Torres allegedly fired his weapon again and struck the victim twice. After the shots were fired the defendant allegedly pointed his game to a man outside and said in sum, “Do you want me to kill you too?”. Denis Enrique Reyes-Nunez was transported to a local hospital before being pronounced as dead from the gunshot wounds to his torso. Responding police recovered both live rounds and bullet casing near the bar’s front door, one of the pool tables, and outside.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Paublo Torres are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
