Two undocumented immigrants have been charged following the shooting of a customs border guard in New York City, according to authorities on Thursday.
The suspects, Miguel Francisco Mora Nuñez and Christian Aibal Berroa, both hailing from the Dominican Republic, were apprehended after an incident at Fort Washington Park last Saturday.
Mora Nuñez, 21, faces a charge of illegal possession of ammunition, which could lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Berroa, 22, is also facing a maximum of 15 years for his role in the incident, which involved a confrontation with a customs officer, as noted by officials.
Ricky J. Patel, a spokesperson, stated, “It’s alleged that these defendants entered our country illegally, and their actions resulted in an assault on one of our officers on Saturday night.”
Reports indicate that Mora Nuñez allegedly discharged a firearm at a Border Protection officer during the incident, injuring the officer in the face and right arm. The officer returned fire, hitting Mora Nuñez, who managed to flee on a motorcycle driven by Berroa, who then transported him to a hospital.
Later, Berroa mentioned trying to dispose of the blood-stained clothes he had worn during the shooting, which drew concern as he interacted with family regarding the clothing removal.
Both of the suspects reportedly entered the United States illegally and are subject to deportation orders from officials.
Interestingly, sources indicated that Berroa might be the same individual caught on camera during a robbery in Massachusetts back in February.
He has a criminal background in New York City, with two charges of reckless endangerment in May 2023 and four felony larceny charges in March and April 2024. Despite this, it appears he was released back into the community, as commented on by the Department of Homeland Security.
Further complicating matters, Berroa was also arrested earlier this year for reckless driving and other related offenses, according to records.
On June 12, 2025, he pled guilty to petit larceny at the Bronx County Supreme Court, which consolidated his prior arrests, allowing for a conditional discharge—a move that allowed him to remain on the streets of New York. A removal order was officially issued to him in January 2023.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish, Berroa was arrested multiple times in early 2024 for various thefts, including in a scooter the Bronx, and is connected to at least four additional cases. The suspect’s entry to the U.S. reportedly took place through Texas in 2022.
