AN off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer has been shot in the face in a midnight ambush in a New York City park.
Horrifying video shows the moment two men on a moped pulled up to the officer, 42, and opened fire before racing away on Saturday.
Following a short manhunt, two suspects were apprehended and identified as individuals unlawfully residing in the country, after their supposed failed robbery at Fort Washington Park.
The incident occurred while an off-duty officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was sitting with a woman on a rock by the Hudson River when the armed suspects appeared at approximately 11:50 pm, according to the New York Police Department.
Footage shows one man approaching the officer and woman with his gun drawn while the other hung back near the bike.
One of the men then pulled out a gun and tried to rob the victims.
The officer then drew his service gun, and the suspect fired at him, shooting his right arm and left cheek.
The suspects fled as the CBP officer fired two shots at the gunman, hitting his leg.
The off-duty officer is now in stable condition in the hospital, police said.
“At this time we have no indication that the officer was targeted for his employment,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Officials said both of the suspects are illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republic with lengthy criminal histories.
SUSPECTED GUNMAN
Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, was detained on Saturday night after limping to the hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg and groin area.
At a press briefing on Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Nunez “has a rap sheet that is a mile long.”
He’s been arrested by the NYPD four times and has faced charges including grand larceny, assault, kidnapping, and witness intimidation.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented, “This violent criminal, an illegal immigrant, had several encounters with NYPD for assault and felony grand larceny prior to ambushing and shooting a CBP officer.”
Noem said Nunez was ordered to be deported back to the Dominican Republic two years ago, but stayed in the US instead.
A judge issued a final order of removal to Nunez in November 2024, the Department of Homeland Security said in a press release.
Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez’s criminal history
Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez is accused of ambushing and shooting an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer on Saturday. Below is his criminal history before the alleged attack:
- October 11, 2023 – NYPD arrests and charges Nunez with felony grand larceny, petit larceny, and reckless driving
- October 1, 2024 – NYPD arrests and charges Nunez with 2nd and 3rd degree assault
- November 30, 2024 – NYPD arrests Nunez for criminal contempt
- January 13, 2025 – NYPD arrests Nunez for criminal contempt again
- February 21, 2025 – Leominster Police Department in Massachusetts issues a criminal warrant for Nunez for armed robbery with a firearm
Source: DHS
SUSPECTED DRIVER
The second suspect, who police identified as Cristian Aybar-Berroa, was arrested on Monday morning.
Aybar-Berroa entered the country illegally in June 2022, the DHS said.
A judge ordered him a final order of removal on January 3, 2023, but he stayed in the US.
The suspect, who is also from the Dominican Republic, was arrested eight times in March and April 2024 on grand larceny and robbery charges involving a scooter.
Tisch said Aybar-Berroa was arrested for Saturday’s incident after questioning by police.
Cristian Aybar-Berroa’s criminal history
Cristian Aybar-Berroa is accused of ambushing an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer on Saturday. Below is his criminal history before the alleged attack:
- May 10, 2023 – NYPD arrests Berroa for 2nd degree reckless endangerment
- March 26, 2024 – NYPD arrests Berroa for 4th degree felony grand larceny and petit larceny
- April 5, 2024 – NYPD arrests Berroa for 4th degree felony grand larceny and petit larceny and is released onto NYC streets
- February 20, 2025 – NYPD arrests Berroa for 2nd degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and driving without a license
- June 12, 2025 – Berroa pleads guilty to petit larceny and is conditionally discharged
Source: DHS
Officials said the two suspects had to be released because police aren’t allowed to hold them for federal agents after they were arrested.
Now, ICE plans to hunt the suspects down on the streets instead of having them detained.
There’s absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the Earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
Border Czar Tom Homan said he plans to “flood the zone” with ICE agents to detain the suspects.
At Monday’s press briefing, Noem slammed New York City’s sanctuary laws that stop local cops from cooperating with federal immigration and Border Patrol agents.
“There’s absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the Earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City,” Noem said.
“Make no mistake, this officer is in the hospital today fighting for his life because of the policies of the mayor of this city and the City Council. The people that were in charge of keeping the public safe refused to do so.”
The officer is in stable condition and is expected to make a speedy recovery, police said.
