Police identify person of interest in off-duty border patrol agent shooting

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — Police have identified a person of interest in custody in connection with the late-night shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer in New York City, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

The 42-year-old officer was sitting along the water of Riverside Park just before midnight on Saturday when the person of interest walked up behind him with a weapon, Tisch said.

Once the officer realized the situation he was in, an alleged robbery, he took out his service weapon in self-defense. The person of interest, identified as 21-year-old Miguel Mora, fired first at the officer, according to police.

An exchange of gunfire followed as the officer was hit in the forearm and face. The suspect was also injured in the exchange and limped back to a scooter driven by an accomplice, according to police-reviewed CTV footage of the incident.

Blood found at the scene is being processed and compared to DNA evidence found in clothing from the area of the shooting as part of the investigation.

Police have no evidence to believe this was a targeted incident against the agent, according to Commissioner Tisch.