NewsPalm Beach CountyRegion C Palm Beach County

Actions

Victims identified in suburban West Palm Beach triple homicide

Yuniel Martinez-De La Cotera
Posted at 9:18 AM, Apr 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-19 22:28:44-04

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said a suspect is in custody after a triple homicide Wednesday night in suburban West Palm Beach.

Deputies responded to the 4700 block of Cole St. around 10:20 p.m. and located the suspect, Yuniel Martinez-De La Cotera, 41, standing by a vehicle parked in the road.

RELATED: Triple murder suspect says the victims 'kind of tortured me'

Martinez-De La Cotera was taken into custody without incident.

“It’s a pretty quiet neighborhood usually, the kids play basketball right here, play around together,” said Dennis Smith, who lives across the street.

Detectives said Martinez-De La Cotera was in possession of a firearm and shot all three victims. PBSO said he was interviewed but declined to discuss the shooting further.

“What happened, you got some problem with people, so why you kill? Why not call the police, you killed people for nothing,” said Fleury Ametide, who lives down the block.

Martinez-De La Cotera is charged with three counts of first-degree murder with a firearm. He is currently going through the booking process, said PBSO.

PBSO on Friday identified the victims as:

  • Yasnai Moliner Yera, 40
  • Yasmar Alfaro-Yera, 25
  • Yusnier Alfaro-Yera, 25

Martinez-De La Cotera was in court Friday morning, and a judge said he will be held in jail without bond.

2 other shootings overnight

It was a violent night in Palm Beach County.

Three other people were hurt in a triple shooting in Boynton Beach. All of the victims in that shooting are expected to survive their injuries.

A person was also fatally shot in Lake Worth Beach.