Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is believed to have had eleven teenage members participate in an assault on two NYPD officers in Times Square, as per information from police sources shared with Fox News.
Out of these suspects, five individuals who are undocumented immigrants from Venezuela have been taken into custody regarding the incident. The attack reportedly involved the group of migrants throwing objects like glass bottles, basketballs, and rocks at the NYPD officers who were intervening in a robbery.
The group involved in the assault included a 12-year-old as the youngest suspect. It was mentioned by police sources that two minors were collected by their migrant parents following the incident, while one is facing legal actions as an adult, being charged with riot and assault.
“It’s horrific enough to be a victim of a crime,” said Mayor Eric Adams in a Tuesday media briefing. “But when someone openly assaults a police officer, you are attacking our symbol of safety, and it cannot be tolerated.”
Mayor Eric Adams gives a media briefing on an alleged attack by teen Tren de Aragua gang members against NYPD Officers. (NYC Mayor’s Office)
Adams said he’s heard from people in the city who have said the suspects are too young for serious punishment, but he said that’s not the case.
“People who prey on innocent people must be held accountable. They must be brought to justice,” he said.
One adult suspect, Yeferxon Jose Mijares Hernandez, 19, was taken into custody on Sunday. He is charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration, second-degree riot and third-degree attempted assault.
“It was reported to the police that on Friday, May 2, 2025, at approximately 1934 hours, two NYPD police officers observed a physical altercation at the intersection of West 42 Street and 8 Avenue in the confines of the Midtown South Precinct,” the police department said in a statement asking for help in identifying three more suspects.
Map of Tren de Aragua presence in the United States as of December 2024. (Fox News Digital)
“Upon arrival, a crowd dispersed, and three unidentified individuals remained on scene. The first individual threw an umbrella at the officers, the second individual threw an unknown object, and the third individual attempted to strike one of the officers with a basketball,” the statement said. “The unidentified individuals fled on foot eastbound on 42 Street towards 7 Avenue. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.”
A major boxing event was held in Times Square on Friday night. The main event was a welterweight fight between Ryan Garcia and Rolando “Rolly” Romero. Romero bested Garcia in the competition.
