Venezuelan gang members: Migrant confesses to shooting police

A migrant accused of shooting two New York police officers made an unexpected confession.

He said Venezuelan gang members are smuggling weapons into migrant shelters in food bags.

According to prosecutors, Bernardo Raúl Castro Mata, 19, will be placed in protective custody.

The young man accused the Tren de Aragua gang during a hearing in Queens Criminal Court.

Bernardo Raúl Castro Mata’s Confession Doesn’t End There

Castro Mata, part of the Venezuelan gang, admitted that two of his companions took advantage of the situation to commit robberies.

He also told the police that he worked for DoorDash and received the gun he used to shoot the officers.

«Members of the Tren de Aragua are smuggling firearms in food bags to city shelters…»

«That way, they don’t have to go through metal detectors,» Bernardo Raúl declared.

Additionally, Castro Mata revealed that it is common for Tren de Aragua criminals to “shoot at police.”

This is because Venezuelan police “shoot at gang members for minor infractions.”

This Venezuelan migrant was processed for a 20-count indictment handed down by a Queens grand jury.

Sixty-six uniformed New York police officers filled the courtroom, causing Bernardo to look shocked upon entering.

Finally, the young man faces two counts of attempted murder and a series of other criminal charges, according to the New York Post.

He allegedly shot officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso, both 26, on June 3.

The officers were attempting to stop one of these Venezuelan gang members who was riding a scooter.

Yarusso was shot point-blank in the chest, and Abreu was shot in the leg before they returned fire and hit Bernardo in the ankle.