NEW YORK — The teenager arrested for a shooting that injured a tourist in Times Square has been charged as an adult with attempted murder.
U.S. Marshals took 15-year-old Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa into custody in Yonkers on Friday, less than 24 hours after the shooting Thursday night.
Police said Rivas-Figueroa was captured on security video opening fire inside a sporting goods store in Times Square after a security guard stopped him with stolen merchandise. A 38-year-old customer was struck in the leg.
He then took off on foot and allegedly fired at officers during a pursuit, but no one was hit.
“He shot [at] the NYPD officers who pursued him through the streets of Midtown without a single thought of who he might hit or who he might kill,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban during a press conference Friday.
Police say Rivas-Figueroa managed to get away after entering the subway system.
According to court documents, the teenager returned home and tried fleeing the city with his mother the next morning, but he was apprehended at a home in Yonkers. Court documents say he was hiding behind a dresser.
Rivas-Figueroa is facing two counts of attempted murder, as well as criminal possession of a weapon and assault charges. His bail has been remanded, as he is deemed a flight risk.
The victim in Thursday’s shooting was taken to a local hospital and has since been released. We’re told she was tourist from Brazil and left New York to return home Saturday morning.
Police say Rivas-Figueroa arrived in New York City from Venezuela less than six months ago. He was living at a migrant shelter on the Upper West Side.
A police source told CBS New York that Rivas-Figueroa is also suspected in a January armed robbery in the Bronx and a shooting in Midtown that no one was injured in.
Rivas-Figueroa is due back in court on Tuesday.
Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
