A man who was an undocumented immigrant was shot and killed by a police officer during a robbery attempt on Sunday. Rahoin Soto, aged 30, had previously been ordered to face deportation after an arrest for theft in May but was released back onto the streets.
Records indicate that Soto entered the U.S. illegally through Texas in June 2024. Following his entry, he faced multiple immigration court hearings and ended up with a deportation order by immigration officials.
Despite this looming order, he was arrested for petty theft in Manhattan on May 15th and, surprisingly, was released without bail even with an existing federal warrant against him.
After his release, Soto continued engaging in criminal activities, according to police reports.
On Sunday, he and an accomplice held four individuals at gunpoint but mistakenly targeted the wrong person. When Soto attempted to take the officer’s weapon, the officer reacted quickly and shot Soto, who hailed from the Dominican Republic.
Sources reveal that Soto had been apprehended by border patrol in El Paso the previous year. He claimed he feared for his safety if returned to the Dominican Republic, which contributed to his release pending an immigration hearing scheduled for January in Manhattan.
However, after failing to attend the hearing, a deportation order was issued against him. He faced charges for theft and possession of stolen property stemming from the May arrest, where he was caught trying to steal items from a U.S. postal service mailbox.
Due to New York’s criminal justice reform policies, Soto had to be released, as the theft charges did not justify detention under state law. It’s still uncertain if New York’s status as a sanctuary state played a part in the federal government’s inability to detain Soto before the fatal incident.
With another court date on the horizon next month, Soto’s final robbery attempt ended tragically. Police are still on the lookout for his accomplice.
