Manhunt for illegal immigrants accused of stabbing NYC cop ends with arrests at Massachusetts home

Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald on Oct 7, 2026

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BOSTON — Two illegal immigrants accused of stabbing and robbing an off-duty New York Police detective sought refuge in the basement of a Lynn home, where authorities arrested them overnight Tuesday.

During an arraignment at Lynn District Court on Wednesday afternoon, the suspects, Dangelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia, 24, waived their right to be extradited to New York, where they face charges of attempted murder.

Both pleaded not guilty to being a fugitive from justice and will return to Lynn District Court later this month for a hearing on that charge.

The New York Police Department announced Wednesday morning that detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended the suspects, “with support from the Boston Regional Fugitive Task Force.”

“The suspects were hiding in the basement of a house when they were apprehended,” the NYPD stated in an X post at 7:45 a.m.

“Thank you to the (U.S. Marshals) for their support on this case,” the department added. “If you come for one of us, you’ll have the full force of the NYPD coming for you.”

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Caraballo and Mejia, who had prior criminal records before last Friday’s broad daylight attack, are from the Dominican Republic and were “RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration.”

“Despite multiple prior arrests in New York, sanctuary politicians refused to cooperate with ICE and released them,” DHS stated in an X post on Tuesday.

New York authorities allege the two suspects attacked Jose Mercedes while the off-duty detective was clearing out the trunk of his car in the Norwood section of the Bronx last Friday around 1:45 p.m.

Caraballo and Mejia allegedly approached the officer on an e-bike before stabbing Mercedes seven times in his torso, neck and leg – injuries that prompted the detective to undergo surgery.

Mercedes, released from the hospital on Monday, fought back and chased Caraballo and Mejia on foot for about two blocks before collapsing. Amid the struggle, the detective pulled off one of the suspects’ masks, which authorities say gave investigators a “critical lead.”

NYPD stated Wednesday morning that the suspects will be charged with attempted murder.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called on New York authorities on Tuesday to “cooperate with us so we can get these dangerous criminals off our streets.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the detective for a speedy recovery,” Mullin stated.

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