One of the alleged muggers involved in a deadly shootout with an off-duty NYPD lieutenant is a Trinitarios gang member who was found in possession of the cop’s chain, The Post has learned.
Christian Cruz, 19, was charged Friday in the botched robbery of Lt. Nathan Yakubov outside La Boom nightclub in Queens early Thursday, police sources said.
He faces counts of first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, assault, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, sources said.
Cruz, along with Ramierik Lopez, 20, and an unknown third accomplice robbed the 44-year-old cop outside the Woodside hot spot around 3 a.m. as the officer walked to his Jaguar SUV, police said.
The robbery quickly went south when Yakubov fought back — and nearly a dozen gunshots were fired, leaving Lopez dead and the cop and Cruz injured.
NYPD Lt. Nathan Yakubov was walking back to his Jaguar SUV when Christian Cruz, Ramierik Lopez and another suspect allegedly confronted him. Seth Gottfried
Suspected shooter Christian Cruz is a Trinitarios gang member, with connections to multiple robberies across the city. Seth Gottfried
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea discusses the details involving the off-duty lieutenant shooting on Dec. 16, 2021. Seth GottfriedThe officer was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover.
Cops caught up to Cruz later Thursday after he walked into Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx seeking treatment for gunshot wounds to his back and buttocks, police said.
He is expected to appear in court later Friday or Saturday morning.
Christian Cruz allegedly tried to rob off-duty NYPD Lt. Nathan Yakubov outside La Boom nightclub in Queens. Seth Gottfried
Gunfire erupted when NYPD Lt. Nathan Yakubov fought back against accused robbers Christian Cruz, Ramierik Lopez and a third accomplice. Seth Gottfried
Authorities recovered a modified pistol at the scene of a wild shooting outside La Boom nightclub in Queens. Seth GottfriedInvestigators are also eyeing him in a string of similar robberies in which a crew targets people walking out of high-end restaurants and steals their jewelry at gunpoint.
