An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot and wounded just before midnight on Sunday in a New York City park located under the George Washington Bridge. Authorities have confirmed that one individual is in custody and is currently being investigated in connection with the crime.
The shooting occurred at 11:51 p.m. on Saturday in Fort Washington Park, situated in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan, as reported by the New York Police Department (NYPD). The victim, a 42-year-old federal Border Patrol agent, sustained gunshot wounds to the face and arm during the incident. Although the victim's name has not been released, police sources informed ABC's New York affiliate station, WABC, about his identity.
The injured agent was promptly transported to Harlem Hospital, where he has been recovering from his injuries. According to police updates, he is expected to survive, providing some relief amidst the ongoing investigation.
Following the shooting, law enforcement officials took one person into custody. The NYPD is currently examining the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine if this individual was involved in the shooting. As of now, a motive for the shooting has not been established, but investigators are looking into the possibility that it may have been related to an apparent robbery.
The shooting incident took place near the Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park, an area directly beneath the iconic George Washington Bridge. This location has now become the focus of a thorough investigation as police continue to gather evidence and interview potential witnesses.
This New York shooting follows a troubling trend, occurring roughly two weeks after a gunman opened fire at the entrance to the Border Patrol sector annex in McAllen, Texas. In this earlier incident on July 7, the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Ryan Louis Mosqueda, unleashed a barrage of gunfire at the federal building housing the U.S. Border Patrol office at McAllen International Airport. According to McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez, the suspect was eventually confronted and killed by Border Patrol agents and local police.
During the McAllen attack, two police officers and a Border Patrol employee were injured, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by law enforcement personnel. The motive behind the McAllen shooting remains under investigation, raising concerns about the safety of federal agents in the line of duty.
As these investigations proceed, the safety of our law enforcement officers remains a pressing issue that demands attention and action from local authorities and federal agencies alike.
