Two illegal immigrants, arrested for shooting an off-duty customs and border protection officer, reportedly planned their robbery on WhatsApp, according to prosecutors on Wednesday.
The shooter, 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, is facing attempted murder charges in an 11-count indictment presented at the Manhattan Supreme Court, as stated by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who made the announcement alongside Mayor Eric Adams.
His accomplice, 22-year-old Christian Iver Bellore from the Dominican Republic, has been charged with robbery, assault, and weapon-related offenses.
Bragg commended the 42-year-old customs officer who was shot in the face during the failed robbery attempt at Fort Washington Park on July 19.
“This was a plotted robbery, as indicated by their text messages,” Bragg stated. “If he hadn’t acted bravely, we can only speculate what might have happened.”
The case is running parallel to impending federal charges against the two men, though specifics regarding the incident near the George Washington Bridge are still being confirmed.
Mora Nunez and Bellore, both with extensive criminal histories since entering the U.S. via the Mexico border in 2022 and 2023, allegedly devised a robbery plan using a secure messaging app.
They showed up at the park just before midnight, initially targeting a woman for her cell phone, according to the district attorney’s office.
Afterward, they took refuge on a pier facing the water and encountered a customs officer who had stepped away from a group, Bragg noted.
Authorities said that Mora Nunez and Bellore seemed unaware that their targets were customs officers, as they weren’t in uniform.
When Bellore tried to flee on his moped, Mora Nunez approached the officer with a gun drawn, prosecutors allege.
As the CBP officer drew his weapon, Mora Nunez fired, hitting the officer, who then returned fire, striking Mora Nunez in the thigh and groin area.
Mora Nunez was arrested at Bronx Hospital, while Bellore reportedly abandoned him.
Those customs officials, whose names remain undisclosed, are currently recovering in the hospital, as per recent reports.
Adams emphasized the importance of collaboration between the NYPD, federal agencies, and Manhattan prosecutors. “A small group of individuals repeatedly commits serious crimes, putting others in danger. I’m grateful to the office for pursuing this indictment and for holding these individuals accountable,” he remarked. “They were a threat and didn’t care about the harm they caused on the streets.”
The mayor, however, faced difficult questions regarding immigration policy and sanctuary city issues shortly after.
Ricky J. Patel, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations who played a role in the investigation, mentioned that Mora Nunez and Bellore are in federal custody and should not have been in the country.
Both men crossed the southern border illegally and had been released before facing immigration hearings. They had also previously been arrested several times by the NYPD but were not detained.
“Had they faced deportation or been barred from entering the country, this tragedy could have been averted,” Patel stated.
