Dramatic details of NYPD shootout reveals migrant gunman who shot 2 cops recently crossed into US: sources
Two of New York’s Finest were shot by a Venezuelan migrant in a wild chase in Queens early Monday — with one of the injured cops frantically rendering aid to his more badly hurt partner, police and sources said.
Suspect Bernardo Castro Mata, 19 — who entered the US illegally last year — shot Officer Richard Yarusso, 26, in his bullet-proof vest and Officer Christopher Abreu, 26, in the leg as the cops wrestled to get his illicit gun away, authorities said.
The wounded cops were given a “guard of honor’’ later Monday as they left Elmhurst General Hospital.
Yarusso touchingly pushed the wheelchair of his partner past the lines of clapping cops and other supporters.
US immigration sources told The Post that Mata illegally entered the country through Eagle Pass, Texas, in July 2023 — and was freed without any tracking just May 6 as part of a “mass amnesty’’ program under the Biden administration.
On Monday, Officers Yarusso and Abreu were working on a robbery pattern involving criminals on mopeds in Elmhurst when they spotted Mata driving a black scooter with no plates the wrong way down a street about 1:40 a.m., police and law-enforcement sources said.
The suspect ditched his moped around 89th Street and 23rd Avenue and ran off, prompting the officers to chase after him, according to cops.
The officers finally caught up with him several blocks away and tackled him to the ground — and the teen then whipped out an illegal Hi-Point .380 pistol from a fanny pack, police and sources said.
Yarusso was tussling with the suspect for the weapon when the gun discharged, striking the officer in his vest on his chest, sources said.
Mata then allegedly shot Abreu as Abreu returned fire and hit the suspect in the right ankle, sources said.
“We’re getting shot at by kids now,’’ a law-enforcement source griped.
Yarusso, still reeling from being shot in his vest, “was more concerned about his partner” and desperately worked to apply a tourniquet to Abreu’s leg to stem the bleeding, said Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry.
He ended up putting his bleeding comrade in their police car and rushed him to Elmhurst, sources said.
Mata has no criminal history in the Big Apple — but he was being eyed by the NYPD in two previous violent “snatch and grab” robberies targeting women in Queens on May 21, they said.
He was already on the cops’ radar Monday as a person of interest for the robberies — which may be part of a slew of crimes run by crews, including a violent gang in at least one case.
The suspect was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens in stable condition. Sources said he was expected to face charges including attempted murder of a police officer and illegal weapons possession.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said Mata had been living at the migrant shelter in the former Courtyard Marriott Hotel near LaGuardia Airport in Queens.
The shelter is about a block from the shooting scene, and about 30 mopeds were parked outside it Monday.
Two migrants living at the shelter told The Post that while Mata used to live there, he didn’t anymore after getting into a fight.
He left the shelter May 15, the New York Times reported.
Michelle Siguencia, a 31-year-old who lives at the shelter with her family, told The Post that metal detectors were installed there after a male migrant took out a gun during a fight with relatives.
“A lot of people come as families but sometimes when there are issues, they take the guys out,’’ she said.
A man who didn’t want to give his name added, “A lot of people come here. … And what they do is f–k s–t up.
“So that’s what puts us all in danger, because I try here to not interact with people. Because I know that few people work, but a lot do stupid things,” the migrant said.
Andres Betancourt, who is from Colombia and has lived at the shelter for the past six to seven months, said, “It’s very unfortunate that other immigrants are ruining it when there’s so much economical opportunity here.
“I’ve seen some other immigrants who are not living in this shelter come here and make trouble. But this shelter has been very safe.”
Everything to know about the two NYPD officers shot by a migrant
A Venezuelan migrant shot two NYPD officers in a wild chase in Queens early Monday — with one of the injured cops frantically rendering aid to his more badly hurt partner, police and sources said.
The suspect, 19-year-old Bernardo Castro Mata, entered the US illegally last year.
Mata shot Officer Richard Yarusso, 26, in his bullet-proof vest and Officer Christopher Abreu, 26, in the leg as the cops wrestled to get his illicit gun away, authorities said.
Mata is also suspected of helping to attack two women — one of whom was slugged in the face — during a pair of snatch-and-grab robberies days ago, police and sources said.
He was already on the cops’ radar Monday as a person of interest for the robberies — which may be part of a slew of crimes run by crews, including a violent gang in at least one case.
Mata has been living in the migrant shelter located in the former Courtyard Marriott Hotel near LaGuardia Airport in Queens.
Mata was charged with two counts of attemptive murder and additionally, two counts each of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and obstruction of governmental administration.
The case against Mata has already been dismissed, the Post has confirmed.
Two City Council members have told The Post that they plan to introduce a bill this week repealing the Big Apple’s migrant-friendly “Sanctuary City’’ laws approved under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio around a decade ago.
The controversial laws limit local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with the feds on immigration matters, including by prohibiting authorities such as the NYPD from cooperating with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents unless the cases involve suspected terrorists or serious public safety risks.
Monday’s two injured cops, who are both single, were in “good spirits” after being treated at Elmhurst, Caban said.
“This could have gone a very different way,” the police commish said at an early morning press conference.
Showing off the bullet hole in one of the officer’s vests, Mayor Eric Adams praised the two cops.
“Because of this vest, a young police officer is going home,” Hizzoner said.
“A senseless act of violence. Total disregard for life,” he added as he addressed the incident.
“Our officers responded with a level of discipline, a level of focus, a level of professionalism. Today we thank God.”
The officers were both assigned to 115th Precinct’s public safety unit. Abreu has been on the job for five years, while his partner joined the NYPD ranks two and a half years ago.
The cops were wearing the unit’s typical modified uniform of tan pants and blue tops, along with their name tags and shields, when shot.
A male neighbor of Abreu’s railed to The Post over the suspect’s illegal entry into the US and the benefits that migrants receive when they come to New York City.
“We didn’t give them enough?! He’s got to rob women on scooters?! Living rent free and then shoot at our cops when they dare to try to stop him?!’’ the man raged.
“This is insane!”
Hendry, the PBA president, fumed: “The question has to be asked, why did this individual run? Why did he go on that scooter?
“Why did he take off? Why didn’t he stop for the police? Why was he carrying a firearm? Why wasn’t he afraid to shoot New York City police officers?” Hendry told reporters.
“We’ve been in courtrooms across this city, demanding change, packing those courtrooms, demanding change to the criminal justice system.’’
Additional reporting by Kevin Sheehan and Desheania Andrews
