Safety Shattered: 2 Indicted for Park Shooting of Off-Duty Federal Officer

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel have announced the indictments of two men for the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Manhattan’s Fort Washington Park on July 19. The suspects are identified as Mora Nunez, 21, and Christhian Aybar‑Berroa, 22, both of whom are reportedly undocumented immigrants from the Dominican Republic.

According to reliable sources, Nunez is facing charges of attempted murder, assault, attempted robbery, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon. Aybar‑Berroa faces charges of assault, robbery, and weapon possession. Both men are also confronted with federal charges, with Nunez accused of unauthorized ammunition possession and Aybar-Berroa of being an accessory after the fact.

The evidence suggests that the incident occurred just before midnight in Fort Washington Park. The suspects, allegedly on a moped, had reportedly robbed a woman minutes before approaching the off-duty officer and a woman with him. At this point, Nunez is said to have opened fire, hitting the officer in the face and right arm. The officer was able to return fire, injuring Nunez, before the suspects fled the scene.

Aybar‑Berroa drove Nunez to a hospital in the Bronx, and later attempted to discard clothing linked to the shooting. According to official statements, both men had entered the United States illegally, Nunez through Arizona in 2023 and Aybar-Berroa through Texas in 2022. Aybar-Berroa had been under a removal order since January 2023.

This raises important questions about the city’s law enforcement policies. The New York Post reports that Aybar-Berroa had been arrested at least eight times previously in New York City, mostly concerning scooter robberies, but had not been jailed due to the city’s bail reform provisions and non-bail-eligible charges. Nunez, meanwhile, had been due for deportation in November 2024. He had also been arrested several times on charges of assault, grand larceny, and kidnapping, and was under an active Massachusetts warrant for armed robbery.

The story of this shooting incident and the subsequent arrests raises key questions about immigration and law enforcement policies. It is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges that face our law enforcement and judicial systems, as well as the urgency of addressing these issues in a fair and effective manner. As the situation unfolds further, we will seek to keep you informed with the most accurate and timely information.