NEW YORK, NY – A 15-year-old venezuelan, suspected of shooting a tourist and firing at police near Times Square, will face multiple charges as an adult, including attempted murder. The teenager is to be held without bail.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed on Friday that the young man, who had arrived in New York City from Venezuela less than six months ago, was facing a series of serious charges. These include two counts of attempted murder, assault, attempted assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has requested the teenager be held without bail due to the severity of the charges and the strength of the evidence against him. The office emphasized the seriousness of the case, highlighting the teen’s actions in shooting an innocent bystander and firing at a police officer.
The teenager, who had been living in a migrant shelter on the Upper West Side, was arrested in Yonkers on Friday afternoon. His immigration status remains unclear.
The NYPD reported that security footage showed the teenager firing a weapon inside a Times Square sporting goods store after being stopped by a security guard for shoplifting. The shot missed the guard but hit a female Brazilian tourist in the leg. The teenager then allegedly fired twice at a responding police officer before fleeing the scene.
Following a brief manhunt, the teenager was apprehended on Friday and taken into police custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 10 at the New York Supreme Criminal Court.
The incident comes less than two weeks after a group of migrants attacked a pair of NYPD officers in Times Square. Several suspects in that case have been indicted, with one currently in custody.