Two illegal migrants are facing federal charges for the shooting of an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer in Manhattan. Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, has been charged with possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, while Christhian Aybar-Berroa, 22, has been charged with accessory after the fact for the July 19 shooting.
The incident occurred in Fort Washington Park, where the 42-year-old officer and a female companion were sitting when they were ambushed by the two men on a moped. Prior to the shooting, the suspects had allegedly stolen a cellphone from another woman in the park. Mora Nunez approached the victims from behind and shot the officer in the face and arm, prompting the officer to return fire, injuring Mora Nunez in the leg and groin.
Both suspects fled the scene on the moped and Mora Nunez was later arrested after seeking treatment at a Bronx hospital. Aybar-Berroa was arrested the following day. Surveillance video captured the shooting, showing one suspect firing shots at the officer before being shot back at.
Both men entered the country illegally during the Biden administration and now face lengthy prison terms as well as removal orders from the United States. Mora Nunez crossed the US-Mexico border in 2023 and has a history of arrests in New York City. Aybar-Berroa crossed the border in 2022 and was released on parole prior to his immigration hearing, despite a deportation order.
Aybar-Berroa has been arrested multiple times by the NYPD and is a suspect in other cases. He claimed to have been present at the park shooting but denied knowledge of the stolen cellphone or firearm. Both men could be facing deportation in addition to their prison sentences.
The Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies are working together to ensure justice is served in this case. The shooting of the CBP officer highlights the dangers faced by federal officers and the importance of addressing gun violence in the city.
