The Department of Homeland Security arrested a second suspect in connection with the shooting and attempted armed robbery of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in New York City on Saturday.
Cristian Aybar Berroa, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was arrested on Monday, DHS announced in a press release. Berroa and another illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, were arrested for their involvement in the attempted armed robbery of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer at Fort Washington Park under the George Washington Bridge on July 19.
Recommended Stories
- Trump tells Republicans to 'say Obama cheated' if asked 'not appropriate' questions
- DOJ fires Habba replacement hours after New Jersey judges rejected Trump pick
- US Olympics bans transgender athletes in women's sports in compliance with Trump order
Nunez is believed to have been the one who fired the gun at the officer, shooting him in the right arm and left cheek, according to DHS. He was arrested on Sunday.
“A witness of the attack stated that she and the victim were sitting on the rocks by the water when two subjects on a scooter drove up to them, dismounted the scooter and approached them with a firearm drawn,” read a release from DHS. “The off-duty CBP officer responded by withdrawing his own firearm in self-defense.”
“Thankfully, the officer is in stable condition at the hospital,” noted the release.
Both are accused of entering the country illegally and had many prior arrests for violent crimes, DHS highlighted.
Berrora had four prior arrests between May 2023 and Feb. 2025, for multiple offenses, including 2nd degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, 4th degree felony grand larceny and petit larceny, according to DHS.
“A judge ordered Berroa a final order of removal on January 3, 2023,” the DHS press release highlighted.
Nunez had three prior arrests in New York City between Oct. 2023 and Nov. 2024 for a variety of offenses, including grand larceny, petit larceny, second-degree assault, and third-degree assault, according to DHS. In Feb. 2025, the Leominster Police Department in Massachusetts “issued a criminal warrant for Nunez for armed robbery with a firearm.”
DHS noted that a judge issued a “final order of removal” for Nunez on Nov. 6, 2024.
TRUMP MAINTAINS 19% TARIFFS ON INDONESIA IN NEW FRAMEWORK DEAL
“These violent thugs have committed a smorgasbord of crimes and been arrested multiple times, and yet New York continued to release them, ignore an ICE detainer, and allow them to continue to prey on Americans and terrorize our streets,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
“How many people have to die, how many lives have to be changed forever for Mayor Adams and his sanctuary politician ilk to end these performative politics?”