Off-Duty NYPD Detective Stabbed 10 Times by Suspected Illegal Immigrants, Chased Attackers Despite Injuries
Prosecutors say two men, identified as illegal immigrants, attacked the detective during an attempted robbery and fled, but were later apprehended.
An off-duty NYPD detective was stabbed 10 times by two individuals authorities identified as illegal immigrants, continuing to pursue them for two blocks despite his severe injuries and identifying himself as a police officer multiple times, Bronx prosecutors stated Wednesday.
The accused attackers, D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneinder Mejia, were arraigned on attempted murder charges in Bronx court and ordered held without bail.
According to Assistant District Attorney Paul Irace, Detective Jose Mercedes, a 10-year veteran, was unloading items from his car when the two men on a moped approached him and demanded his chain. During the ensuing struggle, Mercedes repeatedly identified himself as a police officer in both English and Spanish, but the attackers continued their assault.
"When defendant Mejia was stabbing him numerous times, [Mercedes] attempted to place him under arrest," Irace said in court, adding that Mercedes used his training to prevent further escalation. Mercedes himself stated at a press conference, "I almost died. I told them in English, I told them in Spanish that I was a police officer. They didn’t care."
Despite being stabbed 10 times and losing significant blood, Mercedes pursued the suspects until he felt too weakened to continue. He is still recovering from surgery and has not regained full use of his left hand.
Caraballo and Mejia fled the scene but were later apprehended in Massachusetts. Both are reportedly from the Dominican Republic and were in the United States illegally. Officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not yet commented on their immigration status.
Mejia faces charges of first- and second-degree attempted murder of a police officer, while Caraballo is charged with second-degree assault of a police officer.
