During an arraignment on Wednesday, the suspect accused of shooting two officers from the New York City Police Department in Queens was charged with attempted murder and other offenses. Prosecutors provided details of the incident, stating that the suspect fired shots at close range while engaged in a physical altercation on the ground.
In connection to the shooting of Officers Richard Yarusso and Christopher Abreu, Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, 19, appeared remotely from his hospital bed to be arraigned in Queens Criminal Court.
According to a report by the New York Daily News, Judge Jeffrey Gershuny has ordered Castro Mato, who is currently recovering from a gunshot wound to the ankle, to be held without bail. Mato is facing charges of attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration. The hearing was attended by over 50 police officers in support of Yarusso and Abreu.
According to Queens Assistant District Attorney, Lauren Reilly, Castro Mata’s actions make him the epitome of a flight risk. He was seen running away from uniformed police officers just before he shot two police officers.
Yarusso and Abreu were in the midst of investigating a series of robberies committed by moped and scooter-riding thieves when they came across Castro Mata. Riding a scooter without a helmet and going against the flow of traffic on 82nd St. near 23rd Ave. in East Elmhurst at 1:40 a.m. Monday, Castro Mata caught their attention. Prosecutors revealed in court on Wednesday that Castro Mata was operating an “unregistered motorcycle,” according to the Daily News.
As soon as the officers tried to stop the migrant, he took off on foot. While one officer chased him on foot, the other pursued him in the police cruiser. It wasn’t long before the officers managed to tackle Castro Mata to the ground.
In Queens Criminal Court on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Bernardo Castro Mata, a 19-year-old, faced charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting New York Police Department officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso. Mata’s court appearance was captured in a photograph by Barry Williams, which shows him in the courtroom while the officers’ injuries were being assessed. The case has garnered significant attention and is being closely monitored by law enforcement officials and the media.
Once released from the hospital, Castro Mata will be sent to Rikers Island as per Gershuny’s order.
The judge unequivocally stated that resorting to violence in an attempt to avoid a traffic stop indicates a clear intention to flee using any available means.
According to police, Yarusso’s life was saved by the bullet-resistant vest he was wearing. After being treated at Elmhurst Hospital, Yarusso was able to push Abreu out in a wheelchair once they were both released several hours after the incident. During the altercation, police returned fire and Castro Mata was hit in the ankle. He was transported to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens for medical attention.
According to authorities, during a foot chase in Queens, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela shot two New York City police officers.
During a press conference outside the courthouse, Patrick Hendry, President of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, stated that on that particular night, they both faced a bold and violent individual who carried a gun and shot two New York City police officers at point-blank range.
Surrounded by dozens of officers, Hendry praised the skill and grit of two police officers who had put their lives on the line to stop an individual from causing harm. He emphasized that the court’s decision to support these officers sends a message that police officers who risk their lives every day to protect New Yorkers will be backed by the justice system. However, Hendry stressed the need for consistent messaging that attacking a police officer will result in prosecution, in every borough and courthouse across the city. He urged those responsible for public safety to prioritize the implementation of a system that protects every New Yorker and police officer.
Amidst the cheers and applause from NYPD officers and brass, Officer Richard Yarusso emerged from Elmhurst Hospital, pushing his partner, Officer Christopher Abreu, who had been shot in the leg. Yarusso himself had been shot in the chest, but his vest had saved his life. This heartening scene took place on June 3, 2024, and was captured by Luiz C. Ribeiro for the New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images.
According to the authorities, Castro Mata unlawfully entered the United States last July, near El Paso, Texas. He was residing in a migrant shelter that was previously an airport hotel, situated in the Elmhurst area of Queens. As per reports from the New York Post, Castro Mata has a tattoo that indicates a possible affiliation with Venezuela’s notorious “bloodthirsty” Tren de Aragua gang, leaving investigators on high alert.
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During the court hearing on Wednesday, the prosecutors pointed out that the firearm belonging to Mastro Mata, a .380-caliber pistol, was found at the location. The gun had one bullet in the chamber and another in the magazine, indicating that it had been recently fired.
When authorities arrested Castro Mata, they discovered that he possessed numerous credit cards, two of which were linked to gunpoint robberies in the Bronx where the perpetrators made their escape on scooters. Prior to his arrest, Castro Mata was already a suspect in a series of robberies, including a May 30th incident where he allegedly brandished a firearm at a security guard inside a Queens Lot Less store before fleeing on a scooter.
In response to the shooting incident, law enforcement initiated a large-scale crackdown on illegal vehicles on Tuesday night. During this operation, a total of 72 illegal ATVs, motorbikes, and mopeds were confiscated along with three other vehicles.