Neighborhood Shaken By Elderly Attack
With police continuing to search for two men who violently attacked an elderly man at a Sunnyside bank last month, a local lawmaker called Tuesday, Nov. 4, on those with information about the crime to come forward.
Accompanied by family members of the 81-year-old victim and community leaders, City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer held a press conference outside the Chase bank at 46-10 Queens Blvd., where the 81-year-old male victim was mugged on the morning of Oct. 26.
As reported in last week’s Times Newsweekly, the victim visited the bank’s ATM at about 9:23 a.m. that morning and, upon withdrawing cash, was approached by two individuals described as heavy-set black men in their 20s or 30s.
Police said the duo punched the victim in the face, then removed $100 in cash and the man’s debit card. They fled in an unknown direction, it was reported.
The victim-who, according to Van Bramer, is legally blind- suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
In pleading with the public to assist police in finding the suspects, Van Bramer said on Tuesday that “our community does not and will never tolerate this type of violent crime in our neighborhood.”
“No New Yorker should ever fear living in their own community,” Van Bramer said. “Our community and the 108th Precinct will remain committed to finding these cowardly thugs, bringing them to justice and punishing them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“It takes two cowardly individuals to hit a frail, 81- year-old man,” added Mary Ann Gasparro, the victim’s daughter. “The citizens of Sunnyside [and] Woodside, Council Member Van Bramer, the 108th Precinct and this community will not rest until this crime is solved and our family is delivered justice.”
Police said one of the perpetrators wore a leather jacket with dark-colored pants and brown boots, while his accomplice wore a hooded sweatshirt that had a picture on the front.
The 108th Precinct Detective Squad is investigating the case.
Anyone with information regarding the mugging or the suspects’ whereabouts is urged to call the 108th Precinct Detective Squad at 1-718-784- 5441 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Information may also be sent to Crime Stoppers via text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
