Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, 15, has been arrested. Originally from Venezuela, he entered the United States in September 2023.
Rivas-Figueroa stayed at a temporary shelter at the Stratford Hotel near Times Square on West 42nd Street and Broadway in New York City. He was allegedly involved in a shooting at a park on 45th Street in Midtown, Manhattan, New York City on January 25, 2024 and in a gunpoint robbery in the Bronx in New York City on January 27, 2024.
On the evening of February 8, 2024, Rivas-Figueroa went to JD Sports Store in Times Square with two friends, who are also migrants and teenagers. The three attended school together.
At around 7:01 p.m., Rivas-Figueroa and his two friends tried to steal a coat from JD Sports Store. He allegedly fired a .45 caliber handgun at the female security guard who confiscated the coat.
The bullet missed and hit the left leg of Tatiele Riberio Lemos, 38, of Brazil. The latter is a tourist waiting in line to buy a pair of sneakers.
Riberio was visiting New York City with her mother-in-law and was staying at the Stratford Hotel. The Brazilian tourist was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York City in a stable condition.
While fleeing, Rivas-Figueroa allegedly fired twice at police officers who were pursuing him.
At around 3:30 p.m. on February 9, 2024, U.S. Marshals took Rivas-Figueroa into custody at the residence of a relative on Saratoga Avenue in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York. He was wearing a gold necklace, a dark T-shirt and jeans.
Whether or not Rivas-Figueroa will be charged as a juvenile with attempted murder of a police officer has yet to be confirmed.
CONAN Daily 