October 7, 2026 THE BRONX, NY A vicious daytime robbery in the Bronx left an off-duty NYPD detective fighting for his life after two moped-riding assailants repeatedly stabbed him and ripped a chain from his neck.
The harrowing incident unfolded around 1:45 p.m. near 3174 Rochambeau Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx. Detective Jose Mercedes, assigned to the 44th Precinct, was walking toward his parked vehicle when two men pulled up alongside him on a moped.
Within seconds, the encounter turned deadly violent. The attackers stabbed Mercedes seven times before tearing the chain off his neck and speeding away through the neighborhood streets.
NYPD Names the Suspects in Brazen Attack
During a briefing at One Police Plaza, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch officially identified the two suspects wanted in connection with the violent assault: 25-year-old D’Angelo Caraballo, who has two prior arrests on his record, and 24-year-old Sneider Mejia.
Both men are actively sought by law enforcement on charges stemming from the attack and robbery.
"The entire department stands behind Detective Mercedes as he continues his recovery," Commissioner Tisch stated. "And the greatest detectives in the world will relentlessly pursue those responsible for this crime."
A Miraculous Recovery: Officer Defies the Odds
Emergency Medical Services rushed Detective Mercedes to Jacobi Hospital in critical condition. Medical staff treated the veteran officer for several days as he fought through severe injuries.
In an inspiring display of grit, Mercedes defied expectations by leaving the hospital on his own feet just days after the attack.
Greeting him outside the facility was a sea of blue: hundreds of NYPD officers and leadership gathered to deliver a wall of applause as their fellow officer walked out of Jacobi Hospital to complete his recovery at home.
"In another incredible feat of strength and determination, Detective Mercedes got up from his wheelchair and walked out of Jacobi Medical Center on his own two feet," Tisch noted, praising the officer's resilience.
