Who is Venezuelan immigrant Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata suspect in Queens, NYC shooting, bio, age, nationality and photo

Who is Venezuelan immigrant Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata suspect in Queens, NYC shooting, bio, age, nationality and photo

Venezuela immigrant Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata is the suspect in the Queens, New York City police officers shooting

Social media is currently flooded with reports claiming that a man accused of shooting two police officers in Queens early Monday is a migrant who entered the U.S. illegally last year.

Who is Venezuelan immigrant Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata suspect in Queens, NYC shooting, bio, age, nationality, criminal record and photo

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata from Venezuela, allegedly drove a scooter the wrong way on a one-way street in East Elmhurst when officers attempted to pull him over.

What Did Police Reveal?

Castro-Mata abandoned the scooter and fled before opening fire and injuring the two officers, police reported.

He crossed into the U.S. at Eagle Pass, Texas, last July and is currently staying at a migrant shelter at 90-10 Ditmars Blvd. in East Elmhurst, according to NYPD Det. Joseph Kenny.

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No Prior Arrest?

Castro-Mata has no prior arrests in New York City but is suspected of involvement in several robberies involving motorized scooters, Kenny said. Police believe Castro-Mata is part of a crew using scooters to commit crimes.

“We’re looking at him for several other robbery patterns in the Queens area where he does have other co-defendants,” Kenny stated during a Monday morning briefing.

In one case, Castro-Mata is suspected of attacking a woman and stealing her credit card, which was later used at a Queens smoke shop, police said.

Castro-Mata was also shot during the shootout with officers and underwent surgery on his ankle Monday morning at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.

The gun used in the shooting was illegal and was recovered at the scene, according to the NYPD.

Identity & Conditions of the Victims

One of the officers, 26-year-old Christopher Abreu, was shot in the leg, while his partner, Richard Yarusso, also 26, was hit in the front of his bulletproof vest.

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At least one officer returned fire, hitting the alleged perpetrator in the ankle.

In the immediate aftermath, Yarusso, despite being shot in his vest, was more concerned about his partner and worked frantically to apply a tourniquet to Abreu’s leg to stop the bleeding, according to Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry.


The Injured officers were expected to recover fully and were treated and released from NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst on Monday morning.

The officers received a guard of honor and a huge round of applause as they were released from the hospital Monday morning.

Both officers are assigned to the 115th Precinct’s public safety unit. Abreu has served for five years, while Yarusso has been with the NYPD for two and a half years.

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Details of Firearm Used by Castro-Mata

According to a photo provided by the department, the recovered firearm is a Hi-Point CF 380 semiautomatic, which uses an eight- or ten-round magazine. It fires bullets with the same diameter as those used in a 9 mm pistol.

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