Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the sentencing of Bernardo Raul Castro Mata to 28 years in prison after his conviction for shooting two NYPD officers during an attempted arrest last year. The incident occurred when Mata was spotted on an unregistered motorcycle driving the wrong way on Ditmars Boulevard in East Elmhurst and, subsequently, resisting arrest. In an altercation with the officers, Mata pulled a gun, shooting Officer Richard Yarusso in the chest, though a bullet-resistant vest saved him, and Officer Christopher Abreu in the leg. Both officers survived the encounter, as reported by the Queen's DA office.
The sentencing issued by Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder will have Mata serving consecutive sentences for his charges: 25 years for second-degree attempted murder and three years for second-degree assault, with five and three years of post-release supervision, respectively. The entire ordeal started on June 3, 2024, when officers attempted to engage Mata after observing his illegal maneuvers on the street and sidewalk, a situation that swiftly escalated into the aforementioned violence. In one of the statements, District Attorney Katz remarked on the miraculous survival of the officers involved. According to the Queen's DA office, Mata ultimately pleaded guilty on May 20 to the charges levied against him.
During the fracas, Mata, described as undomiciled, attempted to flee on foot after leaving the motorcycle and resisted arrest by twisting and flailing. The situation took a dark turn when he reached into a bag he was carrying and produced a firearm, which he discharged at point-blank range. Assistant District Attorney Lauren D. Reilly prosecuted the case, which included evidence such as a loaded .380-caliber pistol, bullet fragments, and discharged shell casings recovered at the scene by police.
Both officers were treated for their injuries and released from the hospital, having survived an encounter that, in many similar circumstances, could have resulted in far graver outcomes. Katz stressed the bravery of the officers in dealing with what began as a traffic stop and rapidly deteriorated into a life-threatening situation. They managed to handcuff Mata after he was shot in the foot and ankle by Officer Abreu, who returned fire during the altercation. The legal proceedings and subsequent sentencing draw to a close an event that rattled a community and exemplified the dangerous unpredictability of routine police work.
