Last week, a shocking and disturbing video surfaced showing a group of men attacking New York City police officers in Times Square.
The incident, which occurred on January 27, has sparked outrage and calls for justice from both city officials and residents. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, in a statement released on Saturday, called the acts of violence "heinous" and promised to work with law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The attack on the New York City police officers occurred when they encountered a group of visibly agitated migrants while on patrol in Times Square. The video, captured by a bystander, shows the officers asking the men to move along, at which point the situation quickly escalated. The officers can be seen holding one of the suspects in a yellow jacket down on the ground, while the other suspects are seen kicking and punching the officers before running away.
Police have since identified the suspects as 19-year-old Darwin Andres Gomez, 19-year-old Kelvin Servita Arocha, 21-year-old Wilson Juarez, and 24-year-old Yorman Reveron. They have also arrested and charged three other men, Jhoan Boada, 22, Jandry Barros, 21, and Yohenry Brito, 24, for their involvement in the attack.
Speaking on the incident, Bragg stated that his office is working closely with law enforcement to bring all those responsible for the attack to justice. He further added that while some suspects have already been identified and arrested, there are still others who remain at large. Bragg assured the public that his office is in the process of presenting charges to a Grand Jury on Tuesday and will update the public as soon as legally permissible.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who would rather use the office's resources pursuing a political prosecution of Donald Trump, ignores questions from reporters about why he released the illegal immigrants who attacked NYPD officers without bail.
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) February 3, 2024
Meanwhile, New York Police Department Commissioner Edward A. Caban has also condemned the attack. In a statement released on Saturday, he called the group of men "cowards" and stated that an attack on a police officer is an attack on society as a whole. Caban also expressed confidence that the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney's office will work tirelessly to identify and arrest every person involved in the attack.
According to a law enforcement source who spoke to the New York Post, the suspects gave fake names to a nonprofit group that transports migrants and recently fled to California. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol have since issued warrants for their arrest. Gomez, Arocha, Juarez, and Reveron were charged with assault and released without bail. Brito remains in jail, while Boada and Barros were released without bail.
The attack on New York police officers has once again raised concerns about the safety and protection of law enforcement officers. Local officials have stressed the need for accountability and justice for those who put their lives on the line every day to protect the public. The incident has also sparked discussions about immigration and the importance of properly vetting individuals seeking entry into the country.
As the community processes this disturbing incident, many are calling for stricter measures to ensure the safety of law enforcement officers and the public. It remains to be seen how the district attorney's office will handle the case, but one thing is certain: the attack on these New York City police officers is an attack on the entire community, and justice must be served.