Moped-riding perp shot dead after pulling gun on NYPD cop during robbery was an illegal migrant involved in three other thefts
A moped-riding Manhattan crook who was fatally shot when he pulled a gun on an off-duty cop in a botched robbery was an illegal migrant involved in three other violent thefts minutes earlier, sources told The Post.
Lahione Soto, 30, of the Dominican Republic was shot in the chest three times by the NYPD officer outside a residential building at West 173rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights late Sunday.
Soto, who snuck across the US border in El Paso, Texas, in June 2024 — and sported tattooed writing along his chin and a massive rose on his neck — was one of two moped-riding perps who ambushed the off-duty officer, sources said.
The migrant and his accomplice, who is still in the wind, carried out three other gunpoint robberies in a span of just 13 minutes before the fatal encounter with the cop, sources said.
The string of violent heists began at 9:35 p.m. at the rear of 4040 Broadway, when a 27-year-old man had his moped stolen at gunpoint by Soto and his accomplice on another two-wheeler, according to sources.
“Get off the bike, or I will shoot you,” one of the thugs hissed at the victim, sources said.
Five minutes later, the duo robbed a married couple outside 3800 Broadway — and made a similar threat, sources said.
“Give me your necklace, or I will kill you,” one of the hoods snarled at the 52-year-old wife before snatching her jewelry.
The pair pistol-whipped the woman’s husband, smashing him in the head and knee with the weapon before speeding off, sources said.
Around 9:50 p.m., the crooks then approached a 55-year-old man down the block — with one of them again warning, “Give me what you got, or I will shoot you” — and grabbed his gold bracelet and a gold chain at gunpoint before taking off, sources said.
The duo then approached the off-duty cop outside the apartment block just minutes later, asking, “Does Steve live here?” sources said.
Soto then whipped out his gun, prompting the cop to draw his own weapon and fire off three shots into the migrant’s chest.
Cops performed CPR on the migrant, but he was later pronounced dead in the hospital, police said.
His accomplice fled on a moped wearing a black GAP hooded sweatshirt, according to sources.
A loaded 9mm firearm was recovered at the scene.
At least some of the jewelry swiped during the moped criminals’ previous Sunday night robberies was found on Soto’s body, sources said.
The off-duty cop was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
“Every day, the men and women of the NYPD answered the call to protect and serve, whether they are on or off duty. Tonight, we saw that firsthand,” Deputy Chief Eric Pagan said in the aftermath.
