Migrant rioters have been charged with attacking New York Police Department officers as they were checking on three unaccompanied children outside a Queens hotel that was being used as a shelter, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The six suspects were each charged with attempted first-degree assault, attempted first- and second-degree gang assault, and crimes related to the attack on two NYPD officers in Long Island City on June 17.
“At 4:20 a.m., two police officers were investigating some unaccompanied children outside a Long Island City hotel when a group of adults surrounded them and allegedly punched, kicked and assaulted them,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “My office will vigorously prosecute those who harm police officers and hold the suspects accountable for their actions.”
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Two suspects were captured on police body camera assaulting two NYPD officers. (New York Police Department)
The suspects were identified as Juan Munoz, 25, Alejandro Munoz, Karina Navarro Chavez, 42, Miguel Chiruisa, 23, Christian Taipe, 30, and Natali Iza, 27.
Chiruisa was also charged with second- and third-degree escape, while he and Isa were both charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Authorities said the officers were attacked about 4:20 a.m. as they investigated three unaccompanied children riding bicycles outside a converted hotel that now houses asylum seekers. The officers followed the children and approached the suspect, Katz said.
Isa began yelling at the officers and began pushing and punching one of them while other officers surrounded him. Chiluisa allegedly picked up a child’s bike and threw it at the officers. The officer was punched in the body and Navarro-Chavez allegedly struck the officer in the back of the head with an unknown object.
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New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers stand guard in Times Square ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2017. (Reuters)
Chiruiza then allegedly hit another officer with a child’s bike, after which the group punched, shoved and kicked the officer. Chiruiza, who was already handcuffed, fled the scene before being found and arrested a short time later in a subway station.
Police said one of the handcuffs placed on the officers was broken and both officers were treated at hospital for injuries including shoulder pain and abrasions.
of New York Post At least four of the suspects are immigrants, the report said. Fox News Digital has reached out to Katz’s office and U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE).
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The attack appears to be similar to one in January when migrants attacked two NYPD officers in Times Square, after officers ordered the crowd to disperse and the migrants began punching and kicking the officers.
