Two undocumented immigrants have been charged in connection with the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in New York City. The incident occurred on July 19 in Fort Washington Park, where the officer was shot in the face during a robbery attempt.

Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, faces a charge of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, which could result in a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Cristian Aybar Berroa, 22, is charged as an accessory after the fact, with a potential maximum sentence of 7.5 years. Both men are originally from the Dominican Republic and are in the U.S. illegally.

According to authorities, Mora Nunez allegedly fired at the officer, who was sitting with a female companion. The officer returned fire, hitting Mora Nunez before he fled the scene on a moped driven by Aybar Berroa. After the shooting, Aybar Berroa reportedly attempted to dispose of his bloody clothing and communicated with Mora Nunez's family about the situation.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, "As alleged, these defendants entered and spent years in our country illegally, and their criminal activity culminated in Saturday night’s near-deadly attack on one of our own."

Both suspects are subject to removal orders from the U.S. and have been linked to a previous armed robbery in Massachusetts. Aybar Berroa has a criminal history that includes multiple arrests for reckless endangerment and larceny. Despite an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer, he was released back into the community by the New York City Department of Corrections after a prior arrest.

The shooting incident was captured on surveillance video, showing the suspects approaching the officer on a moped before the confrontation escalated. The officer was ambushed around 11:50 p.m. while sitting along the Hudson River.

Authorities have emphasized their commitment to addressing gun violence and protecting the safety of federal officers and the public. The investigation is ongoing.