Police on Friday arrested a migrant who allegedly shot a tourist and fired at a police officer after being caught stealing at a store in Times Square.
The suspect, 15-year-old Venezuelan Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, was allegedly robbing a JD Sports store with two other teenagers at around 7 p.m. Thursday. A female security guard tried to stop the three robbers and managed to retrieve a bag loaded with stolen items, according to the New York Post.
Rivas-Figueroa allegedly then pulled out a gun and fired at the security guard, but the bullet missed her and instead hit a 37-year-old woman from Brazil, NYPD chief of patrol John Chell said at a news conference.
One of the teenagers stayed in the store, but the other two, including the gunman, ran. While the gunman initially got away, responding officers were able to catch up to the other teenager, who is said to be a 15-year-old living at a Midtown hotel turned migrant shelter.
During the escape, the gunman fired twice in the direction of an officer, who drew his weapon but did not fire back due to “too many people around,” Chell said. The suspect ran into a nearby subway station, took off his jacket, and managed to get away.
U.S. Marshals arrested Rivas-Figueroa Friday afternoon in Yonkers, the New York Post reported. The other two teenagers have reportedly been released.
The Brazilian tourist, reportedly shot just above her left knee, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition and has since been released, according to the New York Post.
The shooting came amid a migrant crisis that has overwhelmed New York City as the U.S. southern border has seen an unprecedented number of illegal crossings. Video released last week showed a group of migrants beating two NYPD officers, and the news that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg released several of the migrants without bail sparked outrage.
New York City mayor Eric Adams came under criticism this week after rolling out a $53 million program to give pre-paid credit cards to migrants housed in the city’s hotels.
