Authorities in New York City have arrested five teenagers tied to an alleged gang-related assault on NYPD officers in Times Square. The group, reportedly connected to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, includes multiple illegal immigrants and juveniles as young as 12, police said.

The incident occurred Friday evening near West 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, just a block away from a high-profile boxing match. NYPD officers on foot patrol noticed a group of around a dozen people encircling three others and intervened. Officers were met with a barrage of thrown objects, including glass bottles, scooters, basketballs, and rocks.

“This was a targeted attack. Planned, deliberate and carried out with intent, and it will not be tolerated,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, according to Fox News. “Luckily, our officers are OK, and the investigation that followed was fast, effective and focused.”

NEW DETAILS: The gang is known as Los Diablos de 42. I am told it is "the minor leagues" for Tren de Aragua. 

Police still searching for some of the migrant suspects. pic.twitter.com/2PIMCUnnlu

— Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) May 6, 2025

Tisch identified a subset of the Tren de Aragua gang known as Los Diablos de 42 as the suspected perpetrators. “Several of them are listed in our gang database, and that’s one of the reasons we caught many of them so quickly,” she said. That same gang database has come under fire from City Council members, which Tisch called “legislating against cops.”

The first arrests were made the day after the incident, including three suspects previously linked to robbery patterns across the city. A fourth suspect turned himself in Sunday, and a fifth—a 16-year-old with prior offenses—was arrested Tuesday morning.

“So far, we’ve apprehended five individuals connected to this incident,” Tisch said. “They face serious charges, including attempted felony assault, inciting a riot and reckless endangerment.”

Adams says the young people, many who had prior records, are members of "Los Diablos de 42," a subset of Tren de Aragua.

He says this is a reason the city needs its gang database. pic.twitter.com/Henmfl0TWW

— Josie Stratman (@JosieStratman) May 6, 2025

According to the NYPD, a 16-year-old is now charged with second-degree riot and obstructing governmental administration, while a 17-year-old faces multiple charges including attempted assault on a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon.

One adult, 19-year-old Yeferxon Jose Mijares Hernandez, was also taken into custody and charged with riot, obstruction, and attempted assault.

Police said the attack started when officers saw a physical altercation. “Upon arrival, a crowd dispersed, and three unidentified individuals remained on scene. The first individual threw an umbrella at the officers, the second individual threw an unknown object, and the third individual attempted to strike one of the officers with a basketball,” NYPD said in a statement. The suspects then fled on foot.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the incident on Tuesday, defending the seriousness of charges against the juveniles. “It’s horrific enough to be a victim of a crime. But when someone openly assaults a police officer, you are attacking our symbol of safety, and it cannot be tolerated.”

Adams also rejected the idea that the suspects’ youth should shield them from consequences. “People who prey on innocent people must be held accountable. They must be brought to justice,” he said.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said authorities will continue pursuing the remaining suspects. “@DHSgov and our law enforcement partners will hunt down these cowards and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she posted on X. “Secretary Noem will not stand idly by as our brave law enforcement is attacked.”

.@DHSgov and our law enforcement partners will hunt down these cowards and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Secretary Noem will not stand idly by as our brave law enforcement is attacked. https://t.co/upaaOKKcff

— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) May 6, 2025

The alleged gang members involved are reportedly illegal aliens from Venezuela. Two of the juvenile suspects were reportedly released into the custody of their migrant parents. One of the suspects is being charged as an adult.

Border Czar Tom Homan criticized New York City’s sanctuary policies for enabling incidents like this. “This is just another example of sanctuary cities not cooperating with ICE and look what happened,” he said. “If you’re brazen enough to attack an armed law enforcement officer, you’re much more dangerous to an unarmed civilian.”

“We’re coming for them,” Homan added.

Police say the suspects are familiar to law enforcement and have been arrested and released multiple times for robbery and other offenses since 2022. Tisch warned that the city’s reluctance to prosecute repeat offenders was endangering public safety.

“This is not low-level crime. It’s organized violence carried out by gang members that we’ve already taken off the streets for preying on New Yorkers,” she said. “Now they’re back, ambushing cops in the middle of Times Square. It’s not a fluke. It’s a system failure.”

Authorities are still searching for additional suspects and are urging anyone with information to come forward.