A suspect accused of shooting an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer during an attempted robbery in a Manhattan park over the weekend is now in custody, authorities confirmed.
The suspect, identified as a 21-year-old migrant from the Dominican Republic who entered the U.S. illegally, allegedly approached the agent and a woman as they sat near the Hudson River in Fort Washington Park just before midnight on Saturday. He opened fire, hitting the officer in the face and arm. Despite his injuries, the officer returned fire, striking the gunman three times.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing two men arriving on a scooter. One dismounted and confronted the pair while the driver waited nearby. After the exchange of gunfire, the injured suspect fled the scene but later arrived at a Bronx hospital with gunshot wounds, where he was taken into custody.
Officials said the suspect crossed the southern border in April 2023 and was released due to overcrowding in detention facilities. A deportation order was issued that same year. Since entering the U.S., the suspect has faced multiple criminal charges in both New York and Massachusetts, including armed robbery, assault, and violating a protective order. Due to New York’s bail reform and sanctuary policies, he was released after each arrest.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect’s injuries were consistent with those seen in the surveillance video. “The officer realized that he was being robbed and drew his service weapon in defense,” she explained, adding that the suspect fired first.
Mayor Eric Adams visited the officer, who remains in stable condition at Harlem Hospital following surgery. “Our goal is to get dangerous people off the streets,” Adams emphasized, highlighting the need for continued federal cooperation.
Federal charges are expected. A second suspect, believed to have driven the scooter, has also been detained. Authorities are investigating whether the pair committed another robbery just minutes before the shooting.
