New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers fatally shot a 30-year-old undocumented immigrant after he allegedly brandished a firearm at them on Sunday night.
According to NYPD Deputy Director Eric Pagan, two men on mopeds approached the officers outside a residence shortly before 10 p.m. During this interaction, one man exited his moped, and when questioned by the officers, he allegedly displayed a gun. The officers, in response, drew their weapons and fired multiple shots, which led to the man fleeing the scene on his moped, Pagan mentioned.
The deceased, identified as Lario Ione Soto from the Dominican Republic, crossed into the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, last June, as reported by an unnamed source. The New York Post provided insights that Soto had inquired about a person named Steve in the area before revealing his weapon. This prompted the officer to shoot him in the chest three times, sources indicated.
Officers recovered a 9mm gun at the scene, and Pagan reported that Soto was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital, despite attempts at lifesaving measures.
It was noted that Soto and a partner were involved in at least three other armed robberies within a brief span of time earlier that evening, allegedly targeting jewelry.
Pagan remarked, “Every day, NYPD men and women respond to calls to protect and serve, whether they are on duty or not. We witnessed that firsthand tonight.”
The incident remains under investigation, and as of publication, the NYPD and the Department of Homeland Security had yet to respond to inquiries.
