An illegal Venezuelan migrant accused of shooting two New York City Police Department officers in Queens this month was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, 19, was indicted on 20 charges, including two counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder; two counts of attempted first-degree assault; two counts of attempted aggravated assault on a police officer; two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; four counts of second-degree assault; resisting arrest; second degree obstruction of government administration; reckless driving; driving a vehicle in the wrong direction on a one-way road; riding a motorcycle without a helmet; and operating a motorcycle without license plates.
The charges stem from a June 3 incident in which NYPD officers attempted to stop Mata for driving the wrong way on a one-way street when he allegedly shot two officers, one at point-blank range in the chest and the other. another on the thigh.
“An attempt on the lives of two police officers simply conducting a traffic stop should offend all New Yorkers. The grand jury returned serious charges against the defendant, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder,” Katz said. “The defendant is accused of shooting two New York City police officers at point-blank range after they attempted to stop him from driving the wrong way down a one-way street in East Elmhurst.”
AN ILLEGAL MIGRANT FROM VENEZUELA ALLEGEDLY SHOT AT NEW YORK POLICE OFFICERS AT POINT BLANK, AND WAS ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BAIL
Bernardo Castro Mata, 19, appeared in Queens Criminal Court on June 5, 2024 to face multiple charges, including attempted murder, for allegedly shooting NYPD officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Pool/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Katz's office provided new details about the incident in a news release Wednesday.
At approximately 1:40 a.m. on June 3, NYPD Officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso, along with NYPD Sergeant Nicholas Condos, were on patrol when they spotted Mata, who was not wearing a helmet, riding an unregistered motorcycle the wrong way on Ditmars Boulevard near 90th Street in East Elmhurst.
Mata was also allegedly turning the motorcycle onto the sidewalk in the presence of pedestrians.
Yarusso and Condos tried to approach Mata, who abandoned the motorcycle and fled, according to authorities.
HOUSE REPUBLICAN USES AOC'S INSULT TO BREAK SILENCE ON 2 COPS ALLEGEDLY SHOT BY MIGRANT GANG MEMBER: 'BABY GIRL'
New York City Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry addresses the media outside the Queens courthouse following Castro Mata's arraignment. (New York PBA)
Yarusso reportedly ran after Mata while Abreu followed in an unmarked vehicle. The condominiums also followed, although Mata reportedly abandoned the motorcycle.
Abreu caught up with Mata and tried to arrest him, but Mata resisted and began flailing his arms and body while reaching into a bag he was carrying across his chest. Katz's office also said Yarusso attempted to help arrest Mata, but Mata continued to resist.
During the fight, the prosecutor said, Mata allegedly pulled a gun from his crossbody bag and shot Yarusso in the lower chest at point-blank range, but the officer's bulletproof vest stopped the bullet.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM VENEZUELA SHOOTS 2 NEW YORK POLICE OFFICERS DURING FOOT CHASE IN QUEENS, AUTHORITIES SAY
NYPD 115th Precinct Officer Richard Yarusso, who was shot in the chest and saved by his bulletproof vest, carries his partner, Officer Christopher Abreu, who was shot in the leg, out of the Elmhurst Hospital emergency room to the applause of NYPD chiefs and fellow officers on June 3, 2024. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Mata also allegedly shot Abreu in the upper right thigh, at which point the law enforcement officer responded, striking Mata in the foot and ankle area.
After being shot, Mata dropped the gun and was handcuffed.
Both officers were taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released.
Investigators at the scene recovered a loaded .380 caliber Hi-Point pistol, as well as two deformed fired bullets, nine bullet fragments, three .380 caliber fired bullet casings, and four discharged 9 mm bullet casings.
If Mata is convicted of the main charge of attempted first-degree murder, he could face up to 40 years behind bars.
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Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder ordered Mata to return to court on September 18.
Police said Mata entered the country illegally last July near El Paso, Texas, and was staying at a former airport hotel converted into a migrant shelter in the Elmhurst section of Queens.
Citing sources, the New York Post reported that Mata has a tattoo that indicates to investigators he could be a member of Venezuela's “bloodthirsty” Tren de Aragua gang.
Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
