Migrant who shot NYPD cops says that's 'common practice' back in Venezuela, prosecutors say

“It’s common practice for Tren de Aragua gang members to shoot at police because Venezuelan police officers shoot at gang members for minor infractions,” Castro Mata told NYPD investigators, according to prosecutors. “Venezuelan police officers get shot often in my home country because criminals feel there is a chance of getting away.”

Gang members get tattoos of the number 23 and sports stars to show their “loyalty to the gang,” he said. Tren de Aragua is the largest criminal organization in Venezuela, with over 5,000 members. Members have been linked to human trafficking, extortion, drug crimes and murder.

“Tren de Aragua members smuggle firearms into city shelters inside food delivery packages,” Castro Mato told authorities. “That way they don’t have to go through the metal detector.”

Officers Yarusso and Abreu were investigating a robbery pattern involving crooks on mopeds and scooters when they spotted Castro Mata, prosecutors said.

“These police officers were just doing a traffic stop,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said at the courthouse Wednesday. “(Castro Mata) was driving up the wrong way on a one-way street. He did not have a helmet. It is one of the dangers of unregistered scooters — if they had not caught him, there would be no way to find him.”

“An attempt on the lives of two police officers simply making a traffic stop should offend every New Yorker,” Katz added.

Speaking outside court, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry called Castro Mata “a dangerous individual (who) wasn’t afraid to shoot at New York City police officers because he thought he was going to get away with it.”

“Not in this country,” Hendry added. “We need anyone who attacks a police officer prosecuted to the fullest extent, and then they need to be deported.”

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