Man sentenced to nearly 30 years behind bars for shooting cops in East Elmhurst

Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, a 20-year-old man, was sentenced to 28 years for shooting two NYPD officers on June 3 of last year. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

The man who shot two police officers in East Elmhurst just over a year ago was sentenced to nearly three decades in prison by a Queens judge on Tuesday.

Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, a 20-year-old homeless man who shot two NYPD officers on June 3 of last year, will now spend the next 28 years behind bars after recently being convicted of attempted murder and assault.

Castro Mata pleaded guilty to the charges in May, and was sentenced by Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder this week.

The newly arrived migrant to the U.S had faced up to 40 years on the top count.

Gothamist reported that Castro Mata did not speak during his sentencing at Queens Criminal Court, which was filled with police officers and police union members.

Castro Mata’s attorney, Scott Celestin, said the 20-year-old “expressed his remorse" for the incident.

“This incident could have ended very differently and was so unnecessary,” Holder said at the sentencing, the outlet reported. “You’ve changed, through your actions, the trajectory of their life both physically and emotionally.”

The incident began at around 1:40 a.m. on June 3, when the two officers, Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso, and their sergeant, Nicholas Condos, were patrolling in an unmarked vehicle and spotted an unregistered motorcycle being driven the wrong way down Ditmars Boulevard, near 90th Street, in East Elmhurst.

Police say they saw Castro Mata weaving the motorcycle onto the sidewalk, where pedestrians were walking.

Yarusso and Condos got out of their car and approached Castro Mata, who fled. Yarusso chased Castro Mata on foot, Abreu in the vehicle and Condos on the motorcycle.

After catching up to Castro Mata in the vicinity of 23rd Avenue and 89th Street, Abreu attempted to arrest Castro Mata, who allegedly began resisting arrest by twisting his body, flailing his arms and reaching inside a bag he was wearing across his chest.

Yarusso attempted to help Abreu put Castro Mata in handcuffs and the two officers struggled with the defendant on the ground.

During the struggle, Castro Mata pulled a gun from his bag and shot Yarusso in the lower chest at point blank range. The officer’s bullet-resistant vest stopped the bullet. Castro Mata also shot Abreu, striking him in the upper right thigh.

Abreu returned fire, shooting Castro Mata in the foot and ankle, at which point the defendant let go of the firearm and was placed in handcuffs.

Both officers were part of a public safety unit attached to the 115th Precinct, and both had less than five years in the department.

They were treated for their injuries and released from a local hospital. PBA officials told reporters Tuesday that they both have returned to work.

Police recovered a loaded Hi-Point .380-caliber pistol at the scene, as well as two deformed fired bullets, nine bullet fragments, three discharged .380-caliber shell casings, and four 9 mm discharged shell casings.

Mayor Eric Adams called the shooting a “senseless act of violence” a week after the incident.

“Our officers responded with a level of discipline, a level of focus, a level of professionalism,” the mayor said. “Today we thank God. When I spoke with the parents of these officers, I could only think of my brother and I and the impact my mom would have. This is what we're fighting every day.”

According to officials, Castro Mata first made his way to New York City shortly after coming to the U.S. through Eagle Pass, Texas in July 2023.

He was living in a former hotel the city had been using to house migrants near LaGuardia Airport.

Though Castro Mata had not previously had any run-ins with the police, NYPD brass claimed that he was wanted for questioning in a robbery investigation in the neighborhood.

“It is simply a miracle that Officers Richard Yarusso and Christopher Abreu are alive today,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said on Tuesday following the sentencing. “These brave officers attempted to stop this defendant after he was observed riding his motorcycle the wrong way on Ditmars Boulevard and driving on the sidewalk with pedestrians present.”