A 28-year-old man is being charged with at least three felonies – any one of which could put him in prison for 25 years – in a brutal Sunday-night attack in Flushing that left a 23-year-old Chinese woman brain dead, according to reports.
The unidentified woman was reportedly walking on 41st Road near Main Street on Sunday, May 16, when Carlos Salazar Cruz, 28, allegedly grabbed a pipe and “smacked her in the face” at about 9 p.m.
Police sources allege that Cruz was drunk when he committed the assault, after which they say he dragged the grievously injured woman into an alley and sexually abused her.
A witness to the attack called 9-1-1, and, according to reports, cops arrived in time to nab Cruz as he was walking away from the scene. The woman was transported to New York Hospital Queens in critical condition with what were initially reported as “life-threatening injuries.”
By Monday, she was being described as “brain dead.”
According to the District Attorney, Cruz is being charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault, and kidnapping – as well as aggravated sexual abuse, tampering with evidence and weapons possession.
As of press time, Cruz’s arraignment had not been announced, but a law enforcement source called it “probable” that he would be denied bail.
