NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A 15-year-old suspect who allegedly shot a Brazilian tourist and fired at an officer in a Times Square store on Thursday was charged with attempted murder and related charges on Saturday, police said.
Police identified the shooter as Jesus Alejandro Rivas Figueroa, 15, and that he is from Venezuela. Figueroa came to the U.S. in September 2023, according to police.
Figueroa was charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault, attempted assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Sources familiar with the situation told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that the 15-year-old is charged as an adult.
“Just like we promised, less than 24 hours later, he’s locked up and off our streets," Police Commissioner Edward Caban said at the conference at around 6 p.m. on Friday.
The NYPD also announced on Friday that they were offering a reward for information that could lead to the arrest Figueroa.
Police released a photo of the gunman on Thursday. The reward was up to $13,500.
Just after 7 p.m., officers responded to a shooting inside JD Sports on Broadway.
Three men were stopped by a loss prevention officer for allegedly shoplifting, according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.
Figueroa took out a 40 caliber handgun from his shoulder strap bag and fired once at the loss prevention officer, according to Chell.
The gunman missed the officer, striking an innocent bystander shopping inside the store in the leg, authorities said. The officer did not fire back.
The 37-year-old victim was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and is expected to survive.
The gunman had fled the scene to parts unknown and an investigation remains ongoing.
"We need the public’s help to identify and locate this individual before he hurts anyone else. He already shot an innocent person and tried to murder a NYC Police Officer," police said.
Sources now say that the suspect is in custody.