Queens, New York – A teenager has been arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting a 68-year-old woman in front of a church, leading to her robbery. The Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, announced the charges on Friday. The 16-year-old suspect, whose identity is being withheld due to his age, is also facing charges for a separate robbery that occurred a few days earlier, according to Katz.
“The vicious nature of the defendant’s actions in the church robbery deeply impacted the city,” Katz stated. “It is alleged that he targeted an elderly woman by pushing her down stairs, stealing her purse, and fleeing in her car.”
The incident took place on a Sunday as the victim was on her way to church. Surveillance footage revealed that the teen ran up the stairs, assaulted the woman, causing her to fall backward and hit her head on the concrete. The suspect then took her purse, which contained money, a cellphone, a credit card, and car keys, before driving away in her Nissan Altima.
The victim sustained critical injuries and was left in a precarious condition, as reported by the NYPD. The teenager was apprehended near his residence on Thursday, according to law enforcement officials.
In addition to the church robbery, the suspect is implicated in another robbery that occurred on April 4 in Queens. In that incident, he allegedly followed a woman into an elevator, demanded money and car keys while pretending to have a weapon, and fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle.
The teenager now faces a series of charges related to both robberies. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison. The authorities are continuing their investigation to ensure justice is served in both cases.