UPDATE Mount Vernon Police Investigate In-Custody Shooting Inside Prisoner Transport Van

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2025 UPDATE Mount Vernon Police Investigate In-Custody Shooting Inside Prisoner Transport Van The Mount Vernon Police Department is

actively investigating an in-custody shooting that occurred inside a department prisoner transport van at approximately 7:40 p.m. on October 16th, near West Lincoln Avenue

and Oak Street in the City of Mount Vernon. At the time of the incident, five prisoners, all remanded to the Westchester County Jail, were being transported by two uniformed

Mount Vernon Police officers seated in the front of the vehicle. The officers reported hearing a single gunshot from the rear of the van, followed by a prisoner stating that he

had been shot. The officers immediately returned to police headquarters, where additional department personnel assisted in safely offloading the prisoners. During the

process, a .22 caliber Rohm-RGT revolver was recovered from one of the prisoners. The weapon had one spent round and four live rounds remaining. The firearm had not been

reported stolen, and a full firearm trace is underway. The injured prisoner, who had been remanded on an open case, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the

lower leg. He was transported to a local hospital, where he remains under medical care. As he is a victim in this incident, no further information will be released regarding his

identity. The alleged shooter has been identified as Louis Soto, 32, of the Bronx. Soto, who has no significant prior criminal history, had been remanded to the Westchester

County Jail on a Forcible Touching charge stemming from an arrest on October 15th. In connection with this incident, Soto will face additional charges, including: • Criminal

Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree • Assault in the First Degree • Reckless Endangerment The department is conducting a full review of the circumstances

surrounding this event, including relevant policies, procedures, and training. Preliminary findings indicate that the firearm should have been detected prior to transport.

Effective immediately, the use of the department's magnetometer / handheld wand is now mandatory for all new prisoner processing. The use of it was optional previously.

Additionally, all prisoners will be scanned with a handheld wand / magnetometer both when entering and leaving the cell block to ensure the safety of officers and detainees.

This will include prisoners coming in from and going to the County Jail and other Jails.

Some of the officers involved have been temporarily assigned to desk duty pending completion of the investigation. They are not suspended or modified at this time. That

does not mean that any Officers have been cleared, charges and modifications may be forthcoming. The names of the Officers are being withheld as the investigation

remains active.