Jose Mercedes, an off-duty detective assigned to the NYPD's 44th Precinct, is currently recovering in stable condition after being brutally attacked during a robbery in the Bronx on Friday, October 2, 2026. The incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. at the intersection of East 206th Street and Rochambeau Avenue in the Norwood neighborhood. According to law enforcement sources and police reports, Mercedes was ambushed by two suspects while clearing out the trunk of his vehicle. The attackers, described as riding e-bikes, attempted to snatch the detective's gold chain. Mercedes fought back, resulting in a violent melee where he was stabbed and slashed at least seven times, primarily in the neck and leg. Surveillance footage obtained by media outlets shows the detective covered in blood before being loaded into an ambulance and transported to Jacobi Medical Center. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited Mercedes at the hospital on Friday afternoon. While one person of interest was taken into custody by Friday evening, police have stated that this individual is not believed to be the one who stabbed the detective. The primary suspects, two males, fled the scene on e-bikes. One of the suspects is reportedly linked to a previous moped robbery. The investigation is ongoing, and the NYPD is urging the public to come forward with any information regarding the whereabouts of the two suspects. Residents described a chaotic scene, with neighbors witnessing the attack and the subsequent collapse of the detective as he attempted to chase the fleeing suspects. The NYPD is actively searching for the individuals responsible for this violent assault on an officer.