TL;DR: Two suspects in the October 2 broad-daylight stabbing of off-duty NYPD Detective Jose Mercedes were arrested late Tuesday night hiding in the basement of a home in Lynn, Massachusetts, ending a five-day multi-state manhunt. Dangelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia, 24, pleaded not guilty to fugitive-from-justice charges in Lynn District Court, waived extradition, and were ordered held without bail pending their return to New York City, where they face attempted murder charges.
The manhunt is over. Late Tuesday night, members of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force — working with the Massachusetts State Police and Lynn Police — arrested Dangelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia, 24, as they hid in the basement of a home in Lynn, Massachusetts. The two men are wanted for the October 2 broad-daylight stabbing of off-duty NYPD Detective Jose Mercedes, 33, in the Bronx, in which the detective was stabbed seven times during an attempted robbery of his gold chain. Both suspects now face a return to New York City, where attempted murder and related charges await them.
The October 2 Attack in the Bronx
Project Diada covered the stabbing when it happened. On the afternoon of October 2, Detective Jose Mercedes — a 33-year-old officer assigned to the Bronx’s 44th Precinct — was off duty when two men pulled up on an e-bike and tried to snatch his gold chain. When Mercedes fought back, one of the men stabbed him seven times with a knife, according to police, then the pair sped off, leaving the detective bleeding on the sidewalk.
Mercedes survived because the blade missed his vital organs. He was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center and released on October 6 — the day before his alleged attackers were caught. The brazenness of the attack, in broad daylight, is what turned the case into a regional manhunt.
Tracked to a Basement in Lynn
After the stabbing, Caraballo and Mejia fled New York, triggering a multi-state search. The U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force took the lead, eventually following their trail to Massachusetts with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police and the Lynn Police Department.
The end came late Tuesday night, when investigators located the pair hiding in the basement of a home in Lynn, a city just north of Boston. U.S. Marshal Ricky J. Patel praised the operation, saying the task force had worked around the clock to track the fugitives.
Not-Guilty Pleas, No Bail, Extradition Ahead
Following their arrest, Caraballo and Mejia were brought before Lynn District Court on fugitive-from-justice charges. Both men pleaded not guilty, waived extradition — meaning they will not fight being sent back to New York — and were ordered held without bail at the Essex County House of Correction.
Once back in New York City, they are expected to face attempted murder and related charges. It is essential to state plainly: neither man has been convicted of the stabbing. They are accused, and the charges against them remain unresolved.
What Federal Officials Say About the Suspects’ Backgrounds
Separately from the criminal case, the Department of Homeland Security has identified Caraballo and Mejia as citizens of the Dominican Republic who entered the United States illegally and who had prior immigration and criminal encounters before the stabbing. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement that both men had prior arrests in New York.
These immigration claims come from federal officials and are distinct from the stabbing charges, which are a matter for the New York courts. Readers should keep the two tracks separate: what DHS says about the men’s immigration history does not determine guilt or innocence in the attempted-murder case.
For Detective Mercedes, the arrests close the most urgent chapter. He survived seven stab wounds and walked out of Jacobi Medical Center on October 6. The two men accused of putting him there are now in custody.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the suspects in the NYPD detective stabbing?
Dangelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia, 24, both identified as citizens of the Dominican Republic. They are accused — not convicted — of stabbing off-duty NYPD Detective Jose Mercedes on October 2.
Where were Caraballo and Mejia arrested?
Late Tuesday night, hiding in the basement of a home in Lynn, Massachusetts, by the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force with help from Massachusetts State Police and Lynn Police.
What happened to Detective Jose Mercedes?
The 33-year-old detective, assigned to the Bronx’s 44th Precinct, was stabbed seven times during an attempted robbery of his gold chain on October 2. He survived because the blade missed his vital organs and was released from Jacobi Medical Center on October 6.
What charges do the suspects face?
They appeared in Lynn District Court on fugitive-from-justice charges and will face attempted murder and related charges in New York City. Neither man has been convicted.
Did the suspects fight extradition?
No. Both men waived extradition in Lynn District Court, meaning they will be returned to New York City without contesting the transfer.
Where are Caraballo and Mejia being held?
They were ordered held without bail at the Essex County House of Correction in Massachusetts pending their return to New York.
What has DHS said about the suspects’ immigration status?
The Department of Homeland Security identified both men as Dominican citizens who entered the U.S. illegally and had prior immigration and criminal encounters. These claims are separate from the stabbing charges, which remain unresolved.
How long did the manhunt last?
Five days — from the October 2 stabbing in the Bronx to the late-night arrests on October 6-7 in Lynn, Massachusetts.
