Mocobizscene- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has identified a total of 11 individuals involved in the case. This Thursday afternoon, seven of the individuals were officially indicted. There are still two individuals who have been indicted by the NYPD but have not yet been located. There are still five suspects that have not been accounted for.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on January 27th, a body camera captured footage of asylum seekers engaged in a verbal exchange with police officers, who were instructing them to clear the sidewalk on West 42nd Street. As the situation escalated, one officer pressed 24-year-old Yohenry Brito against a nearby wall. According to Bragg, Brito’s non-compliance ultimately sparked the group attack on the two police officers.
Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, expressed his deep disgust and anger towards the assault that took place, stating that it sickened and outraged him, just like it did to many others. He emphasized the importance of relying on the NYPD to maintain the safety of the city and condemned any form of attack on police officers. As a lifelong New Yorker and the district attorney, he made it clear that he would not tolerate such reprehensible behavior.
Bragg confidently strolled through the video, meticulously pointing out the undeniable evidence of everyone’s participation in the Jan. 27 attack. In the past, he had mentioned some uncertainty, which is why he refrained from requesting bail, a decision that drew criticism.
Bragg emphasized the meticulousness of the review process, stating that it was necessary to ensure that only those individuals who committed criminal acts were identified and charged. He acknowledged the importance of avoiding any wrongful accusations and ensuring that innocent people were not ensnared in the criminal justice system. Bragg expressed confidence in their thorough investigation, asserting that they have successfully identified the roles of every person involved in the law-breaking and heinous attack.
Yoheny Brito, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Yorman Reveron, and Kelvin Servita Arocha face charges of second-degree assault. Meanwhile, Wilson Juarez is charged with evidence tampering. Currently, Brito is held on bail as he reportedly failed to comply with officers’ commands to clear 42nd Street.
Four individuals who were previously released on their own recognizance, including Reveron and Gomez-Izquiel, are among those indicted. Reveron can be seen in the footage grabbing, pulling, and throwing two officers to the ground, while Gomez-Izquiel allegedly grabbed one officer and kicked another.
According to the DA, two individuals were not involved in any physical contact with the police. It was noted that Arocha kicked a police radio, while Juarez swapped jackets with Brito, who was wearing a yellow jacket at the time. It is worth mentioning that Juarez is the only person who is not currently facing a second degree assault charge.
Mayor Eric Adams strongly condemned the attack, describing it as not just an assault on law enforcement officers, but also an assault on the very concept of justice. He emphasized that the authorities have successfully carried out their duty by apprehending the perpetrators, and now it is the responsibility of the district attorney to ensure a fair prosecution. Mayor Adams further expressed the view that if the individuals are found guilty and it is deemed appropriate, the federal government should carry out their duty by deporting them from the city.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has indicated that certain individuals may have ties to gangs in Venezuela based on identifying features such as neck tattoos and other information.
The District Attorney disclosed that there are two more individuals who were indicted but remain unidentified. One of them, a man wearing a blue jacket, was seen kicking and grabbing the leg of an officer. The other person, sporting a Fila jacket, was observed grabbing an officer.
“We engage with shelters on a regular basis. However, when it comes to specifically targeting them by showcasing photographs, we rely on social media and traditional media platforms to circulate the images. That’s our primary strategy for identifying them,” explained Joseph Kenny, Chief of Detectives at the NYPD.
According to the police union president, the significance of these indictments will only be realized when these individuals appear in a Manhattan courtroom. He emphasized that true justice will not be served until they are all incarcerated.
According to the district attorney, there is no evidence to support the claim made by police sources that some of those indicted had boarded a bus bound for Mexico. However, he did note that one of the indicted individuals did appear in court on Wednesday to face a separate charge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the apprehension of four individuals on Monday. These non-citizens were arrested while traveling on a bus from Texas to Arizona. A spokesperson for ICE stated that investigations are currently being conducted to establish any potential connections between these individuals and the attacks against officers of the New York City Police Department on January 27, 2024.
According to the DA, they have stated that they are not. The District Attorney is collaborating closely with the NYPD to locate the five individuals who remain unaccounted for in the assault. If found guilty, the majority of those who were apprehended could be sentenced to a maximum of seven years behind bars. Missing your next court date is the determining factor that classifies someone as a fugitive.
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