TROY, N.Y. -- Three men have been arrested in Virginia in connection with a pair of homicides in Rensselaer County this week.
Law enforcement agencies investigating the deaths held a press briefing Thursday afternoon.
Authorities confirmed the deaths are related.
“The past few days have been very busy days for the agencies represented here,” said Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo.
Officials from New York State Police joined the Troy Police Chief John Tedesco, Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo and Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove to provide an update on the investigation.
“To let the public know there is no imminent threat of danger,” said Sheriff Russo.
Monday night, the body of 23-year-old Javier Gomez, originally from Mexico, was found in an apartment on Glen Avenue in Troy.
According to court documents released Thursday, Gomez died of from blunt force trauma to the head and multiple stab wounds.
Tuesday night, a body was found near a creek in Brunswick.
“We determined it to be a homicide victim,” said Sheriff Russo.
Authorities identified the body Thursday as Christian Gonzalez Hernandez, the cousin and roommate of Gomez.
Investigators say they recently received information that the suspects in the case were traveling in Virginia.
“We contacted the Virginia State Police who stopped the vehicle with three suspects in it. New York State Police flew investigators from each of the agencies down to Virginia,” said Sheriff Russo.
The men charged are Luis Monge Guevara of Clifton Park, Magdalano Perez Calixto of Latham and Salomon Najera Hernandez of Mexico.
They’re each charged with one count of murder in the second degree.
“Although the investigation is still unfolding, we are very confident this was an incident between acquaintances. It was not a random event and the community is not in danger whatsoever,” said Troy Police Chief John Tedesco.
Authorities did not say how these men knew each other or what a possible motive may be.
Also Thursday, investigators wearing protective suits searched a hotel room in Latham. State Police say that the search is connected to the homicides.
The men charged were arraigned in Virginia Thursday morning and are expected to be extradited to New York. That process is scheduled to begin November 17th.
Murder charges have only been filed in Troy City Court so far.
Charges the men are facing are related to the death of Javier Gomez whose body was found in an apartment in Troy.
They could face additional murder charges for the death of Christian Gonzalez Hernandez.