An off-duty NYPD officer was carjacked by two armed suspects, believed to be Venezuelan migrants, on Friday night in Harlem. The incident occurred at West 146 Street and Bradhurst Avenue when the suspects, one wielding a fully automatic pistol, approached the officer’s 2020 BMW. They forced the officer out and drove off with the vehicle. Investigators later located the car using the officer’s iPad left inside, finding it abandoned less than a mile away.
Authorities apprehended the suspects, identified as Jomar Crespo, 21, and Jose Rivera, 20, who claimed to be from Waterbury, Connecticut. According to the New York Post, they had tattoos linked to a Venezuelan gang and were armed during the confrontation with police. The men face several charges, including robbery, possession of a machine gun, and grand theft auto.
This carjacking follows another violent encounter involving NYPD officers and Venezuelan migrants earlier this month. On June 3, Bernardo Castro Mata, a 19-year-old migrant, shot two NYPD officers in Queens. Mata, who had entered the U.S. illegally, was staying in a migrant shelter at the time of the shooting. He was charged with attempted murder of a police officer and could face up to 80 years in prison.
These incidents highlight significant security concerns and the challenges of effectively vetting migrants entering the United States. The increasing use of advanced weaponry by these individuals poses a severe risk to public safety and underscores the need for stringent law enforcement measures.
Authorities are committed to investigating and addressing these threats to ensure the safety of officers and the community.
