On Monday, June 3rd, two NYPD officers were shot while pursuing an illegal migrant suspect in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens. The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Bernardo Raul Castro Matta, an illegal migrant from Venezuela, shot the officers during a foot chase after fleeing from a scooter that was being driven the wrong way.
The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. at the intersection of 89th Street and 23rd Avenue. NYPD officers from the 115th Precinct’s public safety unit attempted to stop Castro Matta, leading to the chase. During the pursuit, Castro Matta fired at the officers, hitting one in the stomach area of his bullet-proof vest and the other in the leg. Both officers were transported to hospitals and are in stable condition.
Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at a press conference at Elmhurst Hospital, emphasized the dangers faced by law enforcement. Holding up the officer’s bulletproof vest with a visible bullet hole, Adams remarked, “Every day New Yorkers are not wearing this. This is what we’re fighting every day.” He condemned the shooting as a “senseless act of violence” and a “total disregard for life.”
Castro Matta was also injured during the shootout, sustaining a gunshot wound to his right ankle. He was apprehended and taken to a hospital for treatment. The firearm used in the shooting was illegally possessed and has been recovered by the police.
According to authorities, Castro Matta had no prior arrests in New York City but is a suspect in multiple robbery patterns in Queens. He had entered the United States illegally through Eagle Pass, Texas, and was residing at a former Courtyard Marriott hotel in Queens, now serving as a migrant shelter.
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, praised the bravery and quick response of the injured officers. “The one police officer, shot in the vest, was more concerned about his partner, saving his life, getting a tourniquet,” Hendry stated. “That’s what partners do in the NYPD; they save each other’s lives.”
The use of scooters and motorbikes for committing crimes, including shootings and robberies, has seen a significant increase in New York City. From January 1 to June 1, 2024, police reported over 80 incidents involving scooters, up from 20 during the same period in 2023.
