Two Dominican nationals in the country illegally were arrested late Tuesday in a basement recording studio at 10 Central Avenue in downtown Lynn, Massachusetts, ending a five-day hunt for the men accused of stabbing an off-duty NYPD detective in the Bronx. Both waived extradition and face attempted-murder charges in New York. ICE has lodged detainers on both.
Around 1:45 p.m. Friday, October 2, Detective Jose Mercedes, 33, of the 44th Precinct, was off duty at his car trunk near Rochambeau Avenue and East 208th Street when two men on an e-bike tried to snatch a gold chain from his neck. He was stabbed and slashed seven times in the torso, neck, and leg. The blade missed vital organs. He chased them about two blocks, pulled off one mask, then collapsed. He had surgery at Jacobi Medical Center and was released Monday.
Commissioner Jessica Tisch named the suspects Tuesday as D’Angelo Rafael Jean Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia Bautista, 24. Federal officials say Mejia and relatives crossed near San Luis, Arizona, in December 2022, were encountered by Border Patrol, and released. Caraballo crossed the same area in February 2023, was released with a court date, and dropped out of proceedings. Mejia has a May 2025 removal order.
NYPD Crime Stoppers photo.…