A 15-year-old illegal immigrant was apprehended on Friday for multiple violent offenses, including shooting at a police officer, in New York City.
The individual, identified as Jesus Alejandro Rivas Figueroa, discharged a firearm inside a Times Square sporting-goods store on Thursday evening after being confronted by a security guard for attempted theft.
According to law enforcement, the teenager discharged bullets towards the guard before fleeing into the street. One of the bullets grazed the leg of a 38-year-old female tourist from Brazil who was inside the store, causing non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials from the New York Police Department disclosed that the teenager, hailing from Venezuela, had been residing at a migrant shelter in Manhattan since arriving in New York last autumn.
Rivas Figueroa is among the many illegal immigrants who have migrated to the city during the Biden administration, having entered the United States via the southern border.
Fifteen-Year-Old Migrant Apprehended for Firing at Police and Tourists in Times Square (Credits: New York Post)
The suspect was apprehended in Yonkers, officials confirmed. Additionally, he is being investigated as a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx and another shooting incident in Times Square last month, as stated by John Chell, the NYPD’s chief of patrol.
During the pursuit of the shooter through the bustling streets surrounding Times Square, the suspect fired shots twice at an officer, according to NYPD officials.
“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” he explained. “Too many people around, there’s too many people ducking.”
The suspect fired once more from beneath his arm before fleeing into a subway station, where he was last observed. Video footage depicted him discarding his jacket while escaping. News coverage showed police cordoning off a white jacket and baseball cap lying in the street across from Radio City Music Hall.
The shooting incident prompted a significant police presence and search operation, leading to temporary street closures in the vicinity. Police announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the apprehension of the shooter.
Since the spring of 2024, when border states began transporting migrants to “sanctuary cities” like New York City, the metropolis has received over 100,000 illegal immigrants. These cities, characterized by their commitment to providing shelter and social services regardless of immigration status, have welcomed over 10,000 migrants monthly, estimates suggest.
The influx of migrants has incurred substantial costs for New York City, totaling billions of dollars. It is projected that the city will spend an additional $11 billion over the next two years to address the migrant crisis.
In response to the strain on resources caused by accommodating over 130,000 migrants, the city has proposed a budget that includes cuts to law enforcement, education, and other essential services.
Under the proposed budget, the New York Police Department would reduce its officer count to its lowest level since the 1980s. Additionally, the budget proposes $1 billion in cuts for education, affecting summer-school programs and universal kindergarten.
