Queens, N.Y. – A teenager in Queens, New York, has been charged with shoving a 68-year-old woman in front of a church and robbing her. The incident, which occurred as the victim was on her way to church, left the elderly woman in critical condition. The suspect, a 16-year-old whose name has not been disclosed due to his age, was also charged in connection with another robbery that took place a few days prior.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the young assailant is accused of violently pushing the victim down a flight of stairs, causing her to fall and hit her head on the ground. The teenager then proceeded to steal her purse, which contained cash, a cell phone, a credit card, and car keys, before driving off in her Nissan Altima.
The NYPD reported that the victim remained in critical condition following the attack. The suspect was arrested near his home on Thursday after a surveillance video captured him leaving the building involved in the robbery and driving away in the stolen vehicle.
In addition to the church robbery, the teenager was also alleged to have carried out another robbery on April 4, where he followed a woman into an elevator and demanded money and car keys. Threatening the victim by indicating he had a weapon in his pocket, the suspect was able to take the keys and money before fleeing in the woman’s car.
The suspect faces a series of charges related to both incidents, including assault, robbery, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, menacing, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. If convicted, he could potentially face up to 25 years in prison for his actions.
This case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to violent crimes and the importance of addressing the issue of youth involvement in criminal activities. It serves as a stark reminder of the need to protect the most vulnerable members of society and ensure that perpetrators of such heinous acts are held accountable for their actions.