A 15-year-old armed immigrant wanted for fatally shooting a tourist and firing at police in Times Square on Thursday has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and numerous other charges.
Jesús Alejandro Rivas-Figoa, 15, broke down in tears as he was arrested and taken into police custody Friday after a brief investigation into a disturbance in a tourist hotspot in New York City.
Rivas-Figueroa, who police pursued as “armed and dangerous,” has also been charged with assault, attempted assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
Jesús Alejandro Rivas-Figoa (pictured) was charged with two counts of attempted murder and other crimes. (Fox News Source)
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Police said the boy shot Rivas Figoa and two other teens who shoplifted sneakers and clothing from the JD Sports clothing store at West 42nd Street and Broadway around 7:05 p.m. After a security guard caught him, he allegedly fired a .45-caliber handgun at the guard.
The bullet missed the security guard, but as Rivas Figueroa and one of the other shoplifters ran from the scene, it struck a Brazilian female tourist in the leg.
The NYPD said Rivas-Figueroa fired at least two shots at responding officers, and a second officer apprehended the other shoplifter, who was on the run.
The NYPD immediately began searching for Rivas-Figueroa on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer.
Rivas-Figueroa was picked up without incident at a sheriff’s office in Yonkers, New York, just north of the Bronx, around 3:30 p.m. Friday, New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban said. Suburbs. The video shows the man wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt, as well as a gold chain, when he was taken by authorities. Rivas-Figueroa was wearing all white when police said he opened fire in Times Square.
“Last night’s shooting in Times Square was far more than reckless,” Caban said at a press conference Friday night announcing the arrests. “In the middle of one of the city’s busiest and most heavily trafficked areas, a criminal with a firearm decided to pull the trigger.”
“If you believe you are attacking members of this department, and potentially threatening the lives of the very people who keep us safe, If you think you can get away with it, think again,” Caban said. “We will never stop pursuing you. We will find you and arrest you.”
A police vehicle in Yonkers, New York, near where Jesus Alejandro Rivas Figoa, 15, was arrested on Friday. (Peter Garber)
Two immigrants who stomped and kicked an NYPD officer during a brutal attack have yet to be arrested.
Authorities said at a press conference on Friday that the boy was living in a temporary shelter after emigrating from Venezuela. NYPD Sergeant John Chell said the man entered the United States in September and was staying at the Stratford Arms Hotel on West 70th Street, where immigrants stay.
It is unclear whether Rivas-Figueroa is legal or illegal.
Because of his age, it is unclear whether his case will be sent to family court or criminal court. A child who is 13, 14, or 15 years old and is charged with committing a felony or violent felony is considered a juvenile offender under New York state law.
In addition to Thursday’s shooting, Rivas Figoa is also suspected in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a shooting in midtown Manhattan, Chell said.
The woman shot Thursday was grazed by a bullet, a Brazilian official familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital. She was treated at a local hospital and released, police said.
She is scheduled to return to Brazil on Saturday, the source said.
“The police were very resourceful and kind to the woman and really provided a great deal of support,” the official said. “I haven’t heard back from the mayor’s office, but I don’t think she needs to because the police were very cooperative and she wasn’t seriously injured. She’s perfectly fine and this is a big problem.” Not.”
The police officer was not injured.
Jesús Alejandro Rivas-Figoa, pictured, released a photo Thursday where he is accused of firing at police and hitting a woman. (New York City Police Department)
During the press conference, Chell praised the actions of a police officer who was fired upon for failing to return fire in a populated area.
“Our officers showed great restraint in not firing into the crowd of New Yorkers,” he said. “His training teaches him to be careful when firing a weapon.”
“We are the most restrained police force in the world and we proved that last night,” Chell added.
The shooting occurred nearly two weeks after a group of immigrants attacked two New York City police officers, also in Times Square. Several suspects have been charged in the case, but only one is in custody.
Chell said some Venezuelans pose a threat to public safety as the city continues to struggle with the influx of migrants.
“We witnessed moped robberies and snatchings. We witnessed pockets being stolen in Times Square and on the subway. We witnessed several groups breaking into stores and stealing property. I did,” he said.
“The reality of this police force is that they don’t care who you are or what your status is,” Chell said, noting that the teens accused of shoplifting are immigrants. and spoke. We’re not trying to make a big deal about the entire immigrant community as bad people…Our concern, and the community’s concern, is to get these armed, dangerous youth off the streets,” Chell said.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano and CB Cotton contributed to this report.
