NYPD Detective Discharged From Hospital After Brutal Stabbing During Bronx Robbery
Detective Jose Mercedes, who was stabbed seven times while off-duty, was released to cheers from fellow officers.
Detective Jose Mercedes was released from Jacobi Medical Center on Monday evening, several days after he was stabbed seven times during a robbery attempt in the Bronx. He was met with salutes and applause from dozens of fellow NYPD officers as bagpipes played. A 10-year veteran of the force, Mercedes was off-duty on Friday afternoon when two individuals on an e-bike attempted to steal his gold chain as he was clearing out his car trunk in Norwood. The detective resisted the assailants, who then stabbed him multiple times before taking the chain. Footage from the scene showed Mercedes bleeding heavily before being transported to the hospital. His attackers remain at large, according to police.
As he left the hospital, Mercedes, 33, stood from his wheelchair and gave a thumbs-up to the gathered crowd. He works out of the 44th Precinct. He was treated at Jacobi Medical Center for his injuries. His discharge was a moment of celebration for his colleagues, who gathered to support him as he left the hospital.
