by DAVE MARTINEZ

Former New York Red Bulls defender Alfredo Pacheco was shot to death early Sunday morning.

The former Salvadorian international was gunned down at 4 A.M. in Santa Ana while stopping at a gas station with some friends.

According to several reports, Pacheco was not the intended target of the attack, rather it was his group that was targeted. The assailant managed to shoot Pacheco first before taking aim at his friends. Two others escaped the attack with injuries.

Pacheco was part of the 2009 New York Red Bulls team, on loan from CD FAS. He managed just 14 appearances in his short time with the club. He also played with Aguila and Metapan, all while earning a whopping 86 appearances with the El Salvadorian National Team through 2013. He was suspended from professional football in 2013 for his role in a match fixing ring.

Pacheco leaves behind three children. He was 33.