VIDEO: “I almost died”: Dominican NYPD detective recounts surviving Bronx stabbing

Dominican NYPD Detective José Mercedes has spoken publicly for the first time about surviving a stabbing during a robbery in the Bronx, saying he feared for his life after two men attacked him and stole a gold chain his mother had given him.

“I almost died,” Mercedes said during a news conference at his police union’s headquarters in Manhattan. The detective, who has 10 years of service, said he warned his alleged attackers, who are also of Dominican origin, that he was a police officer, but they continued the assault.

“I told them in English, I told them in Spanish that I was a police officer. They didn’t care,” he said. Mercedes appeared with his left arm in a cast and visible stitches and scars on his right arm.

The attack occurred on October 2, around 1:45 p.m., while Mercedes was off duty and cleaning his vehicle on East 208th Street near Steuben Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx. Authorities said two men riding an electric bicycle allegedly approached him to rob him. He suffered multiple stab wounds to his neck, arm and leg while defending himself.

Despite his injuries, Mercedes chased the suspects for five blocks before collapsing on the sidewalk. Realizing how much blood he was losing, he remained still and focused on calling 911 and providing information that could help officers locate the attackers.

The suspects, identified as D’Angelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejía, 24, were arrested days later while hiding in a basement in Massachusetts. The Department of Homeland Security said both men were in the United States without lawful immigration status and had prior records involving robbery and illegal weapons possession.

Mercedes declined to comment on the suspects’ immigration status and background, focusing instead on his investigative work. Scott Munro, president of the detectives’ union, called for sentences ranging from 25 years to life in prison.

The 33-year-old detective thanked the civilians and emergency responders who helped him after the attack. Assigned to the NYPD’s 44th Precinct, he joined the department in July 2016 and was promoted to detective in 2022. His record includes 237 arrests, according to the information cited in the report.