Two of Puerto Rico’s most wanted fugitives were caught hiding in the Bronx — months after they got into a shootout with police and vanished, law enforcement sources told The Post.
The US Marshals fugitive task force collared the slippery pair — Jay Livan Diaz-Del Valle, 25, and Hector Manuel Cruz-Ayala, 27 — on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, sources said.
Their charges stem from a Dec. 12, 2023 encounter with the Puerto Rico Police Department, whose officers were trying to arrest the duo on weapons possession charges, sources said.
Puerto Rican fugitive Jay Livan Diaz-Del Valle was arrested in New York City by the US Marshals fugitive task force. PolicÃa de Puerto Rico
Hector Manuel Cruz-Ayala was also caught hiding in the Bronx. PolicÃa de Puerto RicoThe two men opened fire on the officers — wounding three people in the process — before they fled, sources said.
Cops issued a warrant for the men, who are also suspects in several homicides.
On May 10, the Marshals and the Puerto Rican police got information that Del Valle and Ayala might be hiding out in the Big Apple, according to sources.
Three days later, they found Del-Valle at East Tremont and Marmion avenues in the Bronx.
The following day, they collared Ayala on the 2000 block of Vyse Avenue, also in the Bronx, sources said.
They will likely be charged with attempted murder of a police officer, weapons possession and other offenses, according to sources.
