June 11, 2025 QUEENS, NY – In a case that underscores the perils faced by New York's finest, a 20-year-old man was sentenced to 28 years in prison this week for the attempted murder and assault of two NYPD officers during a traffic stop a year ago. The ruling brings a measure of closure to a harrowing incident that left two officers wounded and highlighted the dangers of routine police work.

Bernardo Raul Castro Mata pleaded guilty to attempted murder and second-degree assault, receiving 25 years for the former and three years for the latter, to be served consecutively.

District Attorney Melinda Katz emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “It is simply a miracle that Officers Richard Yarusso and Christopher Abreu are alive today.” Katz detailed the events leading to the shooting: Officers Yarusso and Abreu attempted to stop Mata after observing him driving his motorcycle the wrong way on Ditmars Boulevard and dangerously operating it on the sidewalk amidst pedestrians.

The confrontation, which occurred on June 3, 2024, began when officers spotted Mata driving a moped erratically on 82nd Street in East Elmhurst. When officers tried to intervene, Mata fled on foot, leading to a brief chase. Without warning, Mata produced an unlicensed firearm and opened fire on the pursuing officers.

Officer Yarusso was struck in his bulletproof vest, a testament to the life-saving equipment worn by law enforcement. Officer Christopher Abreu sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. The unlicensed weapon was recovered at the scene.

Patrick Hendry, President of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), lauded the sentence, asserting that it sends a crucial message. “Anyone who attacks a New York City police officer should expect swift justice and a very long stay in prison,” Hendry stated. However, he also stressed that this single conviction isn't enough to curb the rising tide of assaults on police officers, calling for this stern message to be echoed in every courtroom across the city.