A 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant is currently in police custody after being accused of shooting two NYPD officers during a chase in Queens. The suspect has been linked to a recent string of robberies in the area.
The incident unfolded around 1:40 a.m. on a street in Queens. Community leaders expressed their dismay over the rising crime rates in the neighborhood, attributing part of the issue to migrant shelters. There are 15 such shelters in Queens, including a former hotel where the accused gunman resided.
Community leaders are organizing a rally to demand the closure of the migrant shelter, citing concerns about the presence of approximately 200 motorized bikes outside the facility. The NYPD reported a surge in crimes involving these bikes, with the suspect from Venezuela being spotted riding one on the wrong side of the road before fleeing on foot and shooting at the officers.
The 19-year-old suspect, identified as Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, entered the country illegally through Eagle Pass, Texas, last July. Police believe he is involved in multiple robberies in the Queens area. The two officers injured in the shooting have been discharged from the hospital, with one of them assisting in applying a tourniquet to the other.
Castro Mata was shot in the ankle by police during the incident. Authorities revealed that the gun used by the suspect was illegal, and his moped was unregistered. The investigation into other potential crimes involving the suspect is ongoing, and his arraignment is pending.
