Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, a 19-year-old illegal alien residing in Queens, New York, was arraigned today on multiple charges, including two counts of attempted murder in the first degree. Mata stands accused of shooting two New York City police officers who attempted to stop him for driving the wrong way on a one-way street without a helmet on an unregistered motorcycle in East Elmhurst.
According to the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the incident occurred on June 3 when Officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso tried to pull Mata over. Instead of cooperating, Mata dismounted his motorcycle and fled the scene. After a pursuit, Mata allegedly shot Officer Abreu in the leg and Officer Yarusso in the front of his bullet-resistant vest.
District Attorney Katz expressed her disapproval, stating, “An attempt on the lives of two police officers simply making a traffic stop should offend every New Yorker. The grand jury returned serious charges against the defendant, including two counts of attempted murder in the first degree.”
In addition to the charges of attempted murder, Mata also faces counts of attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon, assault, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, reckless driving, driving a vehicle the wrong way on a one-way roadway, and operating or driving a motorcycle without proper license plates or a helmet.
If convicted on the top count of attempted murder in the first degree, Mata could potentially face a maximum sentence of up to 40 years to life in prison for each offense.
Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder ordered Mata to appear in court again on September 16.
As per the details presented in the charges, according to District Attorney Melinda Katz’s press release:
- On Monday, June 3 at approximately 1:40 a.m., NYPD police officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso and NYPD Sergeant Nicholas Condos were on patrol in an unmarked police vehicle while wearing NYPD uniforms.
- The officers and sergeant observed Mata operating an unregistered motorcycle and driving the wrong way down Ditmars Boulevard near 90th Street in East Elmhurst. Mata was not wearing a helmet while operating the motorcycle.
- Mata was also observed weaving the motorcycle onto the sidewalk with pedestrians present.
- Officer Yarusso and his sergeant exited the unmarked police vehicle and tried to approach Mata, at which point the defendant ditched the motorcycle and fled the scene on foot.
- Officer Yarusso began a foot pursuit while Officer Abreu followed the defendant in the unmarked vehicle. Sergeant Condos pursued the defendant using the motorcycle that the defendant had been operating.
- After catching up to the defendant in the vicinity of 23rd Avenue and 89th Street, Officer Abreu attempted to place Mata under arrest, but the defendant began resisting arrest by twisting his body, flailing his arms and reaching inside a bag he was wearing across his chest.
- Officer Yarusso attempted to help Officer Abreu place the defendant in handcuffs and the two officers struggled with the defendant on the ground.
- During the struggle, Mata removed a firearm from his crossbody bag and shot Officer Yarusso in the lower chest at point-blank range. The officer’s bullet-resistant vest stopped the bullet. Mata also shot Officer Abreu, striking him in the upper right thigh area.
- Officer Abreu returned fire, shooting Mata in the foot and ankle area, at which point the defendant let go of the firearm and was placed in handcuffs.
- Both officers were treated for their injuries and released from a local hospital.
Evidence collected at the scene included a loaded Hi-Point .380-caliber pistol, two deformed fired bullets, nine bullet fragments, three discharged .380-caliber shell casings, and four 9mm discharged shell casings.
During interrogation, Bernardo Raul Castro Mata admitted his affiliation with a Venezuelan gang and disclosed a method used to smuggle guns into shelters through food deliveries to evade metal detectors. Mata further asserted that shooting at law enforcement officers is a routine practice among Tren de Aragua members, attributed to the Venezuelan officers’ retaliation against gang members for minor violations.
Assistant District Attorney Lauren D. Reilly is prosecuting the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Whitney and Bureau Chief Roni Piplani. The prosecution falls under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.