Late Sunday night, a violent spree in Washington Heights, Manhattan, came to a deadly end when an off-duty NYPD officer gunned down a 30-year-old unauthorized migrant during a botched robbery.
According to New York Post, the incident, which unfolded after a string of armed thefts, saw Lahione Soto, a Dominican Republic native, shot three times in the chest after allegedly pulling a firearm on the officer outside a residential building on West 173rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Before this fatal clash, Soto and an accomplice, both zipping around on mopeds, had terrorized the neighborhood with three gunpoint robberies in a mere 13 minutes.
At 9:35 p.m., the duo struck first, targeting a 27-year-old man behind 4040 Broadway, stealing his moped after one of them hissed, “Get off now.”
That kind of thuggery might shock the progressive crowd, who often downplay urban crime, but for many law-abiding citizens, it’s just another reason to demand tougher enforcement.
Just five minutes later, around 9:40 p.m., Soto and his partner robbed a married couple outside 3800 Broadway, snatching the wife’s jewelry while snarling, “Give me it.”
Not content with theft, the robbers escalated to violence, pistol-whipping the husband in the head and knee before speeding off.
One wonders how many more victims would have suffered if not for the officer’s intervention—yet some will still cry “excessive force” without considering the danger these criminals posed.
By 9:50 p.m., the pair hit again, robbing a 55-year-old man of his gold bracelet and chain down the block, barking, “Give me what?”
Moments later, the robbers approached the off-duty cop outside an apartment block, casually asking, “Does Steve live?” before Soto drew a gun.
The officer, acting on instinct and training, fired three shots into Soto’s chest, ending the threat as the accomplice fled on a moped, clad in a black GAP hoodie.
Police attempted CPR on Soto at the scene, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital, while a loaded 9mm handgun, identified as a Tan CZ P-10 C, was recovered nearby.
Some stolen jewelry from the earlier crimes was found on Soto, who bore distinctive tattoos of writing on his chin and a rose on his neck, while the officer was treated for minor injuries.
Deputy Chief Eric Pagan noted the dedication of NYPD officers, stating, “Every day, the men and women of the NYPD answered the call.”
That’s a reminder of the risks they face, even off the clock, while critics of law enforcement often ignore the chaos unleashed by lax border policies that allowed Soto, who slipped into the U.S. via El Paso in June 2024, to wreak havoc here.
The accomplice remains at large, leaving residents on edge and wondering how many more such incidents must occur before policymakers prioritize community safety over political correctness.
Soto’s actions and the violent spree he embarked on underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement at our borders and on our streets, without vilifying those who cross illegally, but holding accountable those who choose crime.
While empathy for human struggle is necessary, so is the recognition that unchecked crime, often tied to systemic failures, burdens the very communities progressive policies claim to protect—Washington Heights deserves better than this night of terror.
