Two Illegal Immigrants with Criminal Records Sought in Stabbing of Off-Duty NYPD Detective
Federal officials state the suspects in the attack on Detective Jose Mercedes are Dominican citizens with extensive criminal histories, highlighting concerns about border security.
Federal officials have identified two suspects wanted in the stabbing of an off-duty New York City Police Department detective as illegal immigrants with lengthy criminal records. Dangelo Rafael Jean Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia Bautista, 24, both Dominican citizens, are accused of attacking Detective Jose Mercedes on Wednesday.
According to police, the suspects attempted to steal Mercedes's gold chain as he was unloading his car. When the detective resisted, he was stabbed and slashed multiple times. Despite his injuries, Mercedes pursued the attackers for two blocks before collapsing. He was hospitalized and has since been released.
Both Caraballo and Bautista entered the U.S. unlawfully through the Arizona border at different times and were subsequently released into the country by the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security stated. Federal officials are urging New York authorities to cooperate in apprehending the suspects.
Caraballo's prior arrests include charges for reckless endangerment, fleeing a police officer, possession of burglar’s tools, controlled substance possession, illegal firearm possession, and menacing with a weapon. He was reportedly released in December 2024 after an arrest for possession of burglar’s tools, before U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could issue an immigration detainer.
Bautista's criminal history includes arrests for grand larceny, possession of stolen property, possession of burglar’s tools, and weapon possession. ICE lodged a detainer against Bautista following an October 2025 weapon charge, but local authorities declined the request, citing New York City's sanctuary policies. DHS noted that Bautista was released so quickly after some arrests that ICE was unable to place detainers.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the incident, stating, "This horrific crime could have been prevented if it weren’t for Biden’s open borders and the America Last policies of New York sanctuary politicians."