Pastor admits decade-old killing

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A Christian pastor has admitted a 1998 killing in which a teenage father was gunned down in front of his girlfriend, police in Buffalo, N.Y., said.

Jose Figueroa, 31, was charged with second-degree murder Monday, The Buffalo News reported.

Figueroa, when he learned police were looking for him, agreed to come to headquarters Monday, police said.

"Within minutes after his arrival, he confessed to the murder of Alex Martinez," said Detective Brian G. Ross, who is in the cold case unit. "I believe his strong faith and conscience led to his willingness to confess."

Investigators say Martinez, 17, was at home with his girlfriend and their baby son when several people broke down the door on Jan. 29, 1998. Figueroa was the alleged gunman.

"They didn't say anything. They just shot him in the head and left through the same door," Joseph Riga, who was head of the homicide bureau in 1998, said at the time.

Figueroa described himself to police as a cleaner who also serves as a pastor, saying he had started preaching after the Martinez killing.