QUEENS, NY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 16-year-old has been charged with multiple serious offenses following an attack on an elderly woman at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Briarwood on April 7. The teen is accused of shoving the 68-year-old victim down a flight of stairs before stealing her purse, car keys, and her car.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:15 AM, was captured on video surveillance showing the teen aggressively pushing the woman as she climbed the church stairs, causing her to fall and suffer critical injuries, including a fractured skull and brain bleeding. The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
In addition to the church incident, the teen is charged with another robbery on April 4, where he allegedly followed a woman from a bank, threatened her in an elevator, and stole her Toyota Corolla. The extensive investigation led by the 107th Police Precinct resulted in the teen’s arrest outside his Jamaica residence on April 11.
District Attorney Katz emphasized the brutality of the church robbery, noting its profound impact on the community. The defendant, who faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted, is charged with first-degree assault, robbery, grand larceny, and several counts of criminal possession of stolen property. Arraignment for these charges is pending.