Weekend Robbery in NYC Park Turns Violent

A robbery that took place over the weekend in a New York City park escalated into violence when one of the suspects shot an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer.

Late Saturday night, at around 11:50 PM, two men approached an officer and a female companion who were sitting by the Hudson River in Fort Washington Park. The pair was reportedly ambushed during this time.

In footage from the incident, one of the suspects can be seen confronting the two. After a brief confrontation involving some physical fighting and gunfire, the suspects fled the scene on a moped.

One of the attackers shot the officer in the face and struck his forearm. In response, the officer drew his weapon and fired back at the suspect multiple times.

The suspect was later identified as 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national.

Nunez had entered the United States illegally in April 2023. He was arrested by border authorities, but released due to a lack of detention space. He was instructed to leave the country the same year, according to reports.

At the time of his arrest, Nunez faced a multitude of violent crime charges in the U.S. He was also targeted for similar charges in Massachusetts. Furthermore, New York City law enforcement had arrested him four times previously, yet he was consistently released without bail. Allegations against him included assaulting a pregnant woman and making threats with a machete, as well as violations of protective orders.

Reports indicate that none of the suspects involved in the incident are eligible for bail.

Law enforcement officers arrived quickly at the scene, already aware that the same suspects had snatched a woman’s cell phone moments before the shooting.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that after undergoing surgery on Sunday, the injured CBP officer remains in stable condition.

DHS Secretary Christie Noem visited the hospitalized officer on Monday. She noted on social media that Nunez was apprehended at the border in April 2023 and subsequently released under the Biden administration.

Former President Donald Trump has criticized Democrats, linking them to these recent attacks and expressing concerns over the release of illegal immigrants in the country. He referred to Nunez as a “monster” and emphasized the bravery showed by the injured officer.

While the investigation continues, the accomplices involved in this violent incident remain at large.