The person charged with making an attempt to homicide a Lengthy Island police officer by stabbing him within the leg throughout a visitors cease pleaded responsible within the assault, and can spend 16 years in jail.
Jonathan Nuñez on Monday entered responsible pleas to 10 felony counts, as the person he practically killed — Suffolk County Police Sergeant Chris Racioppo — watched from contained in the courtroom.
“It was mixed emotions. I haven’t seen Mr. Nuñez since that night, and that night wasn’t very pleasant,” Racioppo stated of seeing the person whose assault put him in a medically induced coma.
An erratic driver concerned in a crash on Lengthy Island late Saturday evening fought with police and finally stabbed an officer within the leg, Suffolk County Police stated Sunday. NBC New York’s Adam Harding stories.
The 31-year-old practically died after he responded to a crash involving the Mercedes Benz that Nuñez admitted he had been excessive on medication whereas driving on April 10, 2021. Cops began to pursue Nunez on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue round 10:45 p.m. that evening as a result of he was allegedly “driving erratically with no headlights,” officers have stated.
Someday after Racioppo turned on his overhead lights, Nunez crashed the Mercedes he was driving right into a Nissan the place the roadway intersects with Brook Road. Then Nunez obtained out of the automotive and “failed to comply with the officer’s commands,” in response to officers.
A bodily altercation ensued between Nunez and Racioppo, at which level Nunez pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer within the leg as he tried to arrest him.
Racioppo suffered a laceration to his leg. A trauma surgeon who operated on him stated the cop may’ve died inside 20 minutes had individuals who witnessed the assault, together with a Marine veteran, not raced to stem the bleeding. That former Marine, Guillermo Sandoval, rushed out of his house after he heard the Nissan crash right into a tree in his garden.
Sandoval stated he noticed Nunez ask for assist, however on the identical time, says he noticed Racioppo inform Nunez to face down. Then the 2 began to combat in his yard.
A Suffolk County police officer is combating for his life after he was stabbed by a driver he was making an attempt to tug over. Luckily, a Good Samaritan jumped in to assist save the officer’s life. NBC New York’s Pei-Sze Cheng stories.
He stated he went again into his house to name 911 and seize a belt to attempt to use as a tourniquet to assist cease the officer’s bleeding. By the point he returned, different officers had arrived they usually together with one other witness, a retired NYPD officer, had been aiding the injured cop. Nunez, who had tried to run away, was then taken into custody.
Racioppo spent 16 days within the hospital for the severed artery, 10 of which had been on a ventilator. He at one level was in a state of “medical shock” and unable to speak, in response to medical doctors. On the time, long-term impacts, together with whether or not he’d be capable to stroll sooner or later once more, had been unsure.
Nuñez, who had a number of prior arrests, admitted that he had taken methamphetamines the evening of the crash.
“He made a mistake and he knew he had to atone for it,” his lawyer, Chris Brocato, stated. He added that Nuñez is actually sorry.
Beneath the plea deal, the Centereach man will likely be sentenced to 16 years moderately than the utmost 30 years behind bars.
Racioppo is again at work and was just lately promoted to sergeant. He’s additionally now a father of two, although nonetheless coping with bodily and emotional scars.
“He belongs behind bars. At the end of the day that’s what happens,” Racioppo stated. “We all knew he was guilty but to hear the guilty plea helps.”
Nuñez will likely be sentenced formally in March.