Off-duty border patrol agent shot in apparent random robbery in NYC park, police say

An off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent was shot in New York City's Riverside Park late Saturday in an alleged robbery that did not appear to target him because of his job, police said

An off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent was shot in New York City's Riverside Park late Saturday in an alleged robbery that did not appear to target him because of his job, police said.

Miguel Mora, 21, is being investigated as a person of interest in the attempted robbery and shooting, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference Sunday. He was hospitalized with gunshot wounds investigators believe he sustained during the incident but was expected to be arrested later Sunday, Tisch said.

Two law enforcement sources told NBC News that the encounter appeared to be random and that it was an attempted robbery.

Tisch said the CBP agent was sitting on the rocks along the water in the Manhattan park when two men rode up to him on a scooter and one got off, approaching him from behind.

One of the men took out a gun, at which point the agent realized he was being robbed and took out his own firearm in defense, Tisch said. The gunman fired at the agent, who returned fire, she said.