According to NBC New York:
Multiple high-level NYPD officials pleaded with the public Friday for help identifying the tattooed stranger they say forced two 13-year-old schoolmates into some park woods at knifepoint, tied them up and sexually assaulted the girl.
NYPD manhunt after 13-year-old sexually assaulted in Queens park video:
They’ve also posted flyers asking for help — and added a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
According to investigators, the boy and girl were on a field in Flushing’s Kissena Park around 3 p.m., just after school let out for the day, when a curly-haired man with braces walked up and demanded they follow him into the woods. When they refused, police say he pulled out a “large machete-style knife” and forced them into an isolated area, where he bound each of their wrists with a shoelace. Then he sexually assaulted the 13-year-old girl.
The kids told cops the man warned them to stay where they were for 20 minutes. He then ran off with their phones. Once time was up, they returned to school and told administrators what happened. They called 911 immediately.
WANTED????for a Sexual Assault i/o Kissena Park #Queens @NYPD109pct on 6/13/24 displayed a knife & forced the 13-y/o victims into a wooded area, forcibly removed the cellphones of both victims & sexually assaulted the Victim????Reward up to $10,000 Know who he is?Call 1-800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/XbZtlaUvuz
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) June 15, 2024
“As a father, a member of this department for many years, this is a parents’ nightmare — and all the communities should be very upset about this and willing to come out and help the police department as we try to resolve this issue,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. “We will spare no expense. We will use every investigative resource. And I again implore the community to help us bring closure to this case for these young children and this family.”
The children were taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Crime data for New York City for the week of June 3 to June 9 shows that there were roughly 41 rape-related incidents in 2024, compared to the same week in 2023 when there were 27 rape incidents reported. There were also roughly 125 other sex crimes reported between June 3 and June 9 of this year, while there were 102 other sex crimes reported during the same time frame in 2023.
The NYPD has issued a public appeal for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward. Highlighting the importance of community cooperation, officials have stressed that even minor details could be pivotal in identifying and capturing the assailant.
The individual Hispanic, approx.. 5 feet, 5 inches tall, in his 20’s, with curly hair, last seen wearing red sneakers & carrying a green backpack. He appeared to have dental braces on his teeth and had a tattoo of a boar or a bull with red eyes on his chest. Reward up to $10,000 pic.twitter.com/d1uT2WTlUL
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) June 15, 2024
The outlet added that while the NYPD does not “yet have footage” of the suspect, he has been described as “about 5 feet 5 inches tall and in his 20s with a heavy accent”:
Detective say they don’t yet have footage of their suspect and are conducting a video canvas of the area in hopes of capturing his image. He is described as being about 5 feet 5 inches tall and in his 20s with a heavy accent. He wore braces on his teeth and he had a tattoo of a boar or a bull with red eyes on his chest, according to police. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black sweatpants and red sneakers, and was carrying a green backpack.
As the investigation continues, the combined efforts of the NYPD and the community will be pivotal in bringing the perpetrator to justice. The incident at Kissena Park has galvanized a collective determination to prevent such crimes and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The NYPD’s swift and decisive actions in response to this incident, coupled with the substantial reward offer, reflect a commitment to justice and the protection of vulnerable individuals. As New York City contends with rising crime rates, the importance of a well-resourced and supported police force remains paramount in maintaining law and order.
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