A suspect is in custody following the shooting of an off-duty United States Border Patrol agent late Saturday night in New York City.
The incident occurred just before midnight in Fort Washington Park, located beneath the George Washington Bridge in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan.
Authorities reported that the 42-year-old Border Patrol agent sustained gunshot wounds to the face and arm during the attack, which took place at approximately 11:51 p.m.
He was promptly transported to Harlem Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment and is expected to survive the injuries.
The shooting transpired near the Little Red Lighthouse, a popular spot in Fort Washington Park.
The event was recorded on security video, significantly aiding law enforcement efforts to apprehend the suspect.
According to police reports, a witness stated that she and the off-duty agent were sitting by the edge of the Hudson River when two men approached them on a scooter.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released security footage showing the two men stopping near the pair, with one dismounting the scooter to approach the agent.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided details at a news conference on Sunday, explaining that the footage depicted the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, brandishing a firearm.
The Border Patrol agent responded by drawing his service weapon in self-defense, realizing he was being robbed.
Commissioner Tisch stated that Mora Nunez fired the first shot, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two.
The suspect was seen limping back to his accomplice, and both fled the scene on the scooter.
Mora Nunez sought medical attention shortly after, arriving at a hospital in the Bronx with gunshot wounds to the groin and leg around 12:18 a.m.
These injuries matched those observed in the security footage from the incident.
Commissioner Tisch indicated that it does not appear the Border Patrol agent was targeted due to his profession.
After undergoing surgery, Mora Nunez is now in custody at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, and authorities expect him to be formally arrested later that day.
The initial investigation revealed that Mora Nunez is from the Dominican Republic and entered the country illegally earlier this year, arriving in Arizona from Mexico in 2023.
However, ABC News has yet to independently verify his immigration status or any criminal history.
Commissioner Tisch noted that Mora Nunez has had two previous arrests related to domestic violence in New York, coupled with an active warrant for failing to appear in court.
Additionally, he is wanted by the NYPD for his involvement in a robbery that occurred in December 2024 and a felony assault involving a stabbing in January 2025, both incidents taking place in the Bronx.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his concerns during the press conference, highlighting the rapid progression of violence attributed to Mora Nunez and promising that attempted murder charges will soon be added to his record.
Mora Nunez is also a suspect in a gun theft from a pawn shop in Massachusetts back in February 2025, according to Commissioner Tisch.
At this time, authorities are still in search of the accomplice who assisted Mora Nunez during the shooting.
Mayor Adams visited the injured Border Patrol agent in the hospital on Sunday, assuring the public that the officer is expected to recover fully from his injuries.
This incident follows a separate shooting that occurred about two weeks ago, when a gunman opened fire at the entrance of the Border Patrol sector annex in McAllen, Texas.
In that case, the shooter, identified as Ryan Louis Mosqueda, attacked the federal building that houses the U.S. Border Patrol office at the McAllen International Airport.
Mosqueda was confronted by Border Patrol agents and local police, ultimately resulting in his death.
During the attack, two police officers and a Border Patrol employee sustained injuries.
The law enforcement agencies are still investigating the motive behind the McAllen shooting.
The recent surge in violence against law enforcement personnel raises significant concerns regarding officer safety and community relations as authorities continue their investigation of these incidents.
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