Drug dealer wanted for fatal Harlem triple shooting nabbed after 4-year manhunt

A drug-dealing suspect wanted for shooting a man to death and wounding two others in Harlem has been nabbed after a four-year manhunt — finally bringing a measure of peace to the slain man’s mother.

“Lord Jesus, my life can go on,” said Tasha Allen, the mother of 27-year-old victim Christopher Allen, upon learning there was an arrest in her son’s case.

Allen was struck in the back when shots rang out near W. 135th St. and Riverside Drive at about 2 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2020. He was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia but could not be saved .

“He had four children that cry over him every day,” said Allen’s mother of her grandchildren, who are now ages 5 to 11. “He always was the one to be there for his friends. If you needed someone to talk to, he was the one.”

Cops named Darlin Martinez as the suspect t hree months after the slaying and asked the public’s help finding him. Police later said he was known to frequent the Bronx near the Grand Concourse, Bronx Terminal Market and Yankee Stadium as they pressed their search. A $2,500 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest.

The shooting “ shook West Harlem to its core ,” the 30th Precinct tweeted Wednesday, announcing the arrest.

“I’m grateful,” said Allen’s mother. “I’m looking forward to court.”

Police finally nabbed Martinez, 26, in Inwood on Tuesday, charging him with murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, gun possession and having a gun near a school, officials said.

“You have a conscience? Do you have a heart, do you have any remorse for what you have done?” Allen asked. “I’m just so hurt.”

After the triple shooting, medics took a second victim to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital with gunshot wounds to his chest and leg, police said. The 26-year-old man was left paralyzed, Allen’s relatives told the Daily News.

Another 27-year-old man took himself to the same hospital with a leg wound.

A police source said the shooting began with a dispute over a brown Audi sedan found parked diagonally in the middle of the street.

“For him to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Tasha Allen said of her son, who lived in the Bronx and played drums in the church she preaches in. “I know my son. I know he wasn’t going there for no trouble.”

Martinez was caught on camera firing at a group of people, including Allen, cops said.

When cops finally caught up with him Tuesday he claimed not to be Darlin Martinez and gave the name Alejandro Lopez, police said. He told officers that he was homeless.

Martinez was charged with attempted murder and assault for shooting the two surviving victims, as well as selling drugs and false impersonation for giving cops a fake name.

“I just really want to know why he shot my son if my son wasn’t in his face,” said Tasha Allen. “I know the streets and what they are, but he’s innocent, why shoot him? Why?”

A year before the shooting, Martinez was arrested on drug possession and drug sale charges in January 2019, cops said.

His arraignment on the murder charges was pending in Manhattan Criminal Supreme Court Wednesday.