Two illegal immigrants are being charged with shooting an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer in the face during a New York City robbery.
Dominican nationals Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, and Christhian Aybar-Berroa, 22, are facing charges for the attack, federal authorities announced Thursday.
Mora Nunez is being charged with possession of ammunition by an illegal alien and Aybar-Berroa is getting hit with accessory after the factThe . Mora Nunez is accused of shooting the CBP officer in Manhattan’s Fort Washington Park around midnight on July 19, ambushing him and his female companion, who were sitting on a rock together.
Mora Nunez hit the officer in the face and right arm, yet the officer still managed to return fire, hitting Mora Nunez twice before he fled the scene on a motorbike driven by Aybar-Berroa. The pair fled to a nearby hospital, charging documents show. Aybar-Berroa allegedly attempted to get rid of his bloody clothing and discussed doing so with one of Mora Nunez’s relatives.
“As alleged, Miguel Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa came to a New York City park and Mora Nunez opened fire—hitting a federal officer in the face,” said U.S. Attorney for Manhattan Jay Clayton.
“Gun violence will not go unanswered. Our office will relentlessly pursue anyone who threatens the safety of New Yorkers and the federal officers sworn to protect them.”
Mora Nunez faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and Aybar-Berroa’s maximum sentence is seven-and-a-half years.
Before the shooting, Mora Nunez of illegal immigrants robbed a woman in the park, stealing her cellphone as Aybar-Berroa stayed behind on his motorbike.
A few minutes later, a masked Mora Nunez carried out the attack and the pair fled to a hospital located in the Bronx about two miles away from the park. More Nunez needed treatment for gunshot wounds to his legs and groin sustained when the CBP officer returned fire.
Aybar-Berroa conducted two interviews with law enforcement and admitted to being at the shooting and attempting to give his bloody clothes away. He knew he and Mora Nunez were both in the U.S. illegally, but claimed he did not know Mora Nunez robbed the woman beforehand and was in possession of a firearm.
“As alleged, these defendants entered and spent years in our country illegally, and their criminal activity culminated in Saturday night’s near-deadly attack on one of our own,” said Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge Ricky Patel.
“As we continue to hope for the speedy recovery of the CBP officer, we will leave no stone unturned – we owe that much to the law enforcement community and the American public at-large.”
Mora Nunez illegally crossed the U.S. southern border in April 2023 and has been arrested several times in New York City and elsewhere. Aybar-Berroa came to the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was later placed in expedited removal proceedings. He was placed in immigration custody earlier this week following the shooting.