Two Men Indicted for Shooting Off-Duty CBP Officer in Manhattan

Two men, Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar, both undocumented immigrants from the Dominican Republic, have been indicted in connection with a violent robbery spree in Fort Washington Park, Manhattan, that culminated in the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. On July 19, the suspects first assaulted a woman to steal her phone before confronting the officer, with Mora shooting the officer in the face and arm; the officer returned fire, injuring Mora. Mora faces attempted murder and multiple other charges, while Aybar faces assault, robbery, weapon possession, and federal charges including accessory after the fact. After the shooting, Aybar drove Mora to a hospital and attempted to discard evidence. Both suspects remain in federal custody, and the incident has drawn condemnation from officials, highlighting concerns about their illegal status and prior arrests. The prosecution is led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Homeland Security Investigations, emphasizing the collaboration between agencies to maintain safety in Manhattan.