CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - One of two suspects accused in the deadly shooting on I-480 in Bedford Heights pleaded guilty this week.
Michael Alvarado pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of obstructing justice. Alvarado’s sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The jury trial for the second suspect, Michael Roman, began Monday in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
Roman is charged with aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault.
Johndiel Rivera was fatally shot around 3:50 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2025.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said Rivera, 19, was driving home from work when a vehicle driven by Roman approached near the Aurora Road exit.
O’Malley said Roman and Alvarado, who was his front seat passenger, shot at Rivera’s car multiple times.
Rivera then lost control and crashed into the concrete median of the highway.
After the crash, O’Malley said Roman and Alvarado returned to the scene and fired more shots into Rivera’s car.
“These two individuals gunned down a young father who was simply trying to get home from work,” said O’Malley. “Fortunately, for the State of Ohio and the public, they committed their crimes on camera.”
Bedford Heights Police discovered the body around 7 a.m., when responding to an abandoned vehicle on the highway.
Bedford Heights Police said Alvarado and Rivera worked together.
The night of the homicide, police said Roman picked up Alvarado and waited for Rivera to leave work.
After the murder, police said Alvarado called off work for two days.
On Feb. 26, Alvarado was arrested by Bedford Heights Police and Roman was arrested by the U.S. Marshals’ Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force on Feb. 28.
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