Off-Duty NYPD Detective Describes Stabbing During Bronx Mugging
Detective Jose Mercedes recounts the attack, stating his assailants were undeterred when he identified himself as a police officer.
An off-duty NYPD detective who was stabbed multiple times during a mugging in the Bronx recounted the attack, detailing how he fought back and informed his assailants he was a police officer, but they showed no reaction.
Detective Jose Mercedes spoke for the first time Tuesday since the Oct. 2 assault, which occurred while he was cleaning his car. Two men on an e-bike approached him, stabbing him an estimated 10 times in the neck, arm, and leg before stealing a gold chain his mother had given him.
"I almost died," Mercedes said at a press conference at his police union's headquarters in Manhattan. "I told them in English, I told them in Spanish that I was a police officer. They didn’t care."
Mercedes, a 10-year veteran of the NYPD, sustained significant injuries, with his left arm still in a cast and visible stitches and scars on his right arm. He described chasing his attackers for five blocks while bleeding profusely before collapsing on the sidewalk.
Officials stated the suspects fled the scene but were apprehended days later, reportedly hiding in a basement in Massachusetts. The NYPD identified the suspects as D’Angelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneinder Mejia, 24, both of whom are alleged to have been in the U.S. illegally and are from the Dominican Republic. According to officials, both men had prior arrest records in New York City.
Despite the details surrounding the alleged immigration status and criminal histories of his attackers, Mercedes focused on his dedication to investigating crime throughout his career.
DEA President Scott Munro, who stood with Mercedes, expressed strong criticism. "These perpetrators — they’re illegal. They need to do 25 years to life," Munro stated. "They picked on this giant here. Well, guess what? This giant chased them five blocks, bleeding."
Mercedes reflected on the moments after the attack, realizing the severity of his blood loss but maintaining his composure to assist investigators. "I realized I was bleeding a lot. I had lost a lot of blood, and as I sat down, I thought about other cases that I’ve investigated, and I thought about what happens when you lose a significant amount of blood, and I just wanted to stop moving so that I don’t lose more blood,'' he said. He emphasized his desire to provide as much information as possible to 911 operators for EMS and police.
The detective expressed gratitude to the civilians and first responders who aided him. "All I really want to do is say thank you to all those people that are assisting me and allowing me to stand today," he said.