A Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally in Eagle Pass, Texas, last year and was subsequently processed and released has been accused of shooting and killing two New York Police Department officers and is suspected of participating in multiple thefts. The officers returned fire, shooting the Venezuelan.
Officer Christopher Abreu, 26, was shot in the leg, Officer Richard Jarusso, 26, was hit in the vest and grazed in the abdomen, and Bernardo Raul Castro Mato was shot in the lower leg, police said. WabBoth officers were released from the hospital Monday morning.
According to the NYPD, Mato was pulled over for riding a moped the wrong way. He fled on foot and then fired a handgun at officers who pursued him. WABC reported that Mato is a suspect in multiple robberies in Queens, in which victims’ cellphones were taken. In one incident, a woman was assaulted and her credit card was stolen and used at a tobacco store.
The NYPD posted a photo of the High Point where Mato allegedly fired at officers.
Mato had been staying in a hotel that had been converted into a taxpayer-funded shelter after arriving in New York City from the southern border.
“These are bullet holes. This vest will bring a young officer home. This was a senseless act of violence and a total disregard for life. Our officers responded with discipline, focus and professionalism. Today we thank God,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference, holding up the vest that saved Iarrusso’s life.
The NYPD posted a photo of the High Point where Mato was allegedly firing at officers.
When Abreu and Yarusso were released from the hospital, staff from other departments came outside to greet them and offer their support.
With hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants arriving in a short space of time, crime committed by illegal immigrants has become a major problem for sanctuary cities, and cities like Chicago, Denver and New York City have spent millions of dollars to support people released by the Border Patrol.
