An off-duty NYPD detective was hospitalized after being stabbed seven times during a robbery attempt in the Bronx, with two suspects currently at large.
Police Detective Jose Mercedes, 33, was taking items out of his car trunk around 1:45 p.m. on Friday when two men on an e-bike approached him, allegedly attempting to steal his gold chain. The suspects, identified as D’Angelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia, 24, fled the scene after Caraballo stabbed Mercedes multiple times.
Mercedes was transported to Jacobi Medical Center, where he underwent treatment before being released on Monday.
According to Fox News, both suspects entered the United States illegally in 2023 and were released into the country during the Biden administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had previously issued a detainer for Mejia’s arrest, and he had received a deportation order last year. Caraballo had prior arrests in 2025 for menacing and gun possession. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited Mercedes at the hospital. Commissioner Tisch noted that Mercedes recovered sufficiently to stand up and walk out of the medical center on his own, cheered by hundreds of fellow officers.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics and the victim's family have highlighted the suspects' immigration status and prior legal history as evidence of systemic failures. Ricardo Mercedes, the detective's uncle, stated, "We want the justice system to ensure the police do their job effectively, but the courts go too easy on them, sending criminals right back out on the street." He added, "We want a tough stance from the justice system," and "The police catch them, but then they’re let go — right back out on the street. That is what we want to change." Critics point to the fact that both suspects crossed the border illegally in 2023 and were released into the country, with Mejia having a pending deportation order and Caraballo having recent arrests for menacing and gun possession, as indicative of lax enforcement policies.
What the Left Is Saying
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited Detective Mercedes at the hospital, emphasizing the city's support for the officer. Commissioner Tisch stated that the entire department stands behind Mercedes as he continues his recovery, pledging that the "greatest detectives in the world will relentlessly pursue those responsible for this crime." The administration's response focused on the officer's resilience and the ongoing investigation rather than immediate policy changes regarding the suspects' immigration status.
What the Numbers Show
Detective Jose Mercedes sustained seven stab wounds during the incident. The suspects, D’Angelo Caraballo (25) and Sneider Mejia (24), both entered the U.S. illegally in 2023. Mejia had a previously issued ICE detainer and a deportation order from last year. Caraballo was arrested in July 2025 for menacing after allegedly threatening to stab a person who rented him a room, and earlier in 2025 for gun possession involving a loaded .380 Taurus. As of the latest reports, both suspects remain at large. Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Mercedes was discharged from Jacobi Medical Center on Monday and was able to walk out of the facility independently.
The Bottom Line
The case remains an active manhunt as police seek to locate Caraballo and Mejia. The incident has reignited debates over immigration enforcement and judicial discretion in New York City, particularly regarding the release of individuals with pending deportation orders or recent arrest records. The recovery of Detective Mercedes, who walked out of the hospital on his own, has drawn widespread attention from city leaders and the NYPD. Authorities are reviewing the specific circumstances of the suspects' prior releases to determine if policy changes or procedural adjustments are warranted.