Jorge Alexander Huezo Villatoro charged in machete killing of Tadeo Alvarado-Chavez in Uniondale

A Salvadoran national pleaded not guilty at arraignment on Friday, charged with second-degree murder in connection with a brutal machete killing after a bar fight early Monday in Uniondale, according to police and court records.

Nassau County police said Jorge Alexander Huezo Villatoro, 35, was arrested on Thursday in Westbury following an investigation, charged with the death of Tadeo Alvarado-Chavez, 40, of Roosevelt. Police said the two were acquaintances.

Court records show Huezo Villatoro pleaded not guilty before Judge Michael W. Alpert in First District Court in Hempstead and was ordered held without bail. His next scheduled court appearance is Wednesday.

His Mineola-based attorney of record, George Albert Michel IV, told Newsday he had no comment at this time.

At a Friday morning news conference at police headquarters in Mineola, Det. Lt. Daniel Steller, deputy commanding officer of the Homicide Squad, said Chavez and Huezo Villatoro were involved in "an argument and a fight" around 2 a.m. Monday inside the Uniondale bar Frontera, which is in a Nassau Road strip mall. Steller said, "Mr. Villatoro did punch our victim during this fight." Chavez then left Frontera, but returned about two hours later with a machete, Steller said.

"Mr. Chavez was quickly disarmed by Mr. Villatoro and a bystander," Steller said, describing the events that followed. "The unarmed Mr. Chavez then left the scene and walked away. Mr. Villatoro then went and grabbed a second machete and pursued Mr. Chavez to the rear of the strip mall. He then slowly and methodically approached him and committed a barbaric assault with the machete, striking Mr. Chavez approximately 40 times, causing his death."

Steller said Huezo Villatoro had no previous arrests.

Police are investigating whether the killing involves potential gang affiliations.  

Police said officers responding to a 911 call at 4:05 a.m. Monday found Chavez unresponsive and a police medic declared him dead at the scene at 4:13 a.m.

Calls to businesses located in the strip mall shopping center went unanswered or were not returned earlier this week.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.