D'Angelo Rafael Jean Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia Bautista, 24, both pleaded not guilty during their New York criminal court arraignment on Wednesday.
The two suspects, identified by federal authorities as citizens of the Dominican Republic living illegally in the United States, publicly denied involvement in the violent robbery and stabbing of off-duty NYPD Detective Jose Mercedes.
The Case and Extradition
- The Attack: On October 2, 2026, 33-year-old Detective Jose Mercedes was attacked from behind in the Norwood section of the Bronx while cleaning out his vehicle's trunk.
Prosecutors allege Mejia brandished a knife and stabbed Mercedes 10 times, while Caraballo stole gold chains from the detective's neck. Mercedes identified himself as a police officer multiple times during the encounter, but the attackers continued.
- The Flight and Capture: Following the incident, the suspects allegedly fled to Massachusetts, cut their hair to alter their appearances, and stopped using their cellular devices. U.S. Marshals and state authorities eventually tracked them down and arrested them in the basement of a building in Lynn, Massachusetts.
- The Denial: Upon being extradited back to New York, Mejia told reporters in Spanish, "I didn't do anything". Caraballo focused his comments on his treatment, claiming he was not being fed, and asked photographers to let his mother know he was okay.
Current Legal Status
During their joint court appearance, both defendants were remanded and are being held without bail. They face multiple severe criminal charges, including:
- Attempted murder of a police officer
- Robbery
- Assault on a police officer
Detective Mercedes survived the brutal encounter and spoke out at a news conference on Tuesday, appearing with stitches in one arm and a cast on the other. He expressed gratitude to be alive and noted that he is still working to regain movement in his left arm. The suspects are scheduled to return to court on December 3, 2026.