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Injured NYPD officers: Migrant suspect accused in shooting of 2 New York City officers to be arraigned at hospital bedside

EAST ELMHURST, Queens (WABC) — The man accused of shooting two NYPD officers in Queens will be arraigned Wednesday morning from his hospital bed.

Police revealed he had previously met with agents in other states.

Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, 19, will be arraigned at 10 a.m.

The Venezuelan migrant faces several charges, including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration.

Eyewitness News cameras rolled as the migrant, who entered through Eagle Pass, Texas, last year, was taken into an ambulance. He was shot in the ankle after bullets flew early Monday morning.

This happened while officers were dealing with a theft problem in East Elmhurst.

That's when they attempted to stop the suspect who was riding a scooter going in the wrong direction.

That chase continued on foot when the suspect allegedly shot Officer Christopher Abreu in the upper leg, as well as Officer Richard Yarusso, who was grazed in the stomach and hit in his body armor.

Two NYPD officers injured in a shootout with a suspect in East Elmhurst were released from the hospital Monday.

That's when the police returned fire.

ICE confirmed that Mata's immigration case was thrown out by a federal judge last month, and Mayor Eric Adams said people who commit crimes should be held accountable.

“Those who commit serious crimes should not be allowed to remain in our city after serving their sentences and going through the legal process,” Adams said. “Far too many people come here to pursue the American dream. We should be here to provide access to that dream. They are a chilling effect on the dream.”

On Tuesday, NYPD top brass appeared on Eyewitness News Mornings @10 and shared with us that the video taken from the officers' body cameras was dramatic and showed it was a physical struggle between the officers and Mata .

NYPD Patrol Chief John Chell and Deputy Commissioner for Operations Kaz Daughtry joined the Eyewitness News Mornings @10 team to talk about recent crimes in New York City and what the NYPD is doing to combat them.

The arraignment will take place at 10 a.m. at the courthouse. Mata will appear via video as he recovers at a local hospital.

Watch the full press conference with officials on the shooting:

Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Caban, along with others, provide an update on the shooting.

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