Story by Ethan
On August 6th, 2025, the arrest of Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar, ages 21 and 22, was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.. Miguel Mora was charged with first-degree Attempted Murder, first-degree Robbery, first-degree Attempted Robbery, second-degree Attempted Murder, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Robbery, second-degree Attempted Robbery, and second-degree Assault. Christhian Aybar was charged with first-degree Robbery, first-degree Attempted Robbery, second-degree Robbery, second-degree Attempted Robbery, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and second-degree Assault. The arrest and charges against Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar were a result of an investigation handled by Homeland Security Investigations, New York’s Violent Gang Task Force, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the defendants communicated about alleged robbery plans through the messaging app WhatsApp on July 19th, 2025. Allegedly Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar rode on a moped into Fort Washington Park at approximately 11:45 p.m. later that day. The two defendants came across a 39-year-old woman alone on a park bench before allegedly getting into a physical altercation where Miguel Mora grabbed the woman’s phone before pushing her forcefully. After the altercation Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar headed northbound towards the George Washington Bridge before stopping at the lighthouse at the foot of the bridge. After bringing the moped to a complete stop the defendants noticed one off-duty CBP officer alongside another victim who were sitting near the lighthouse facing towards the river. Allegedly while Christhian Aybar turned the moped around to leave while Miguel Mora dismounted and stealthily made his way towards the two individuals. After coming into close enough of a vicinity to the officer Miguel Mora allegedly pulled out a gun and aimed it at the officer who quickly responded in the same manner, both of them returning fire at one another. The officer was struck once in his face and once in his hand and wrist. Miguel Mora was struck once in his thigh and once in his groin before Christhian Aybar drove him to a Bronx hospital for treatment before he was arrested by federal authorities. Christhian Aybar was located and arrested by federal authorities the following day.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that the charges against Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
