Police have released images of a person of interest linked to the violent sexual assault in Kew Gardens Hills on Monday morning that left a 52-year-old woman unconscious and in serious condition.
At 8:33 a.m. on April 30, police said, officers from the 107th Precinct and EMS units responded to a 911 call about a possible sexual assault in the vicinity of Kissena Boulevard and 72nd Road.
Upon arriving at the location, authorities said, police found the victim lying at the bottom of an exterior stairwell unconscious, with trauma to her face and body.
Paramedics rushed the woman to a local hospital in serious condition; according to published reports, she remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, but has been unable to speak with detectives.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, it is believed that the victim was pulled down to the stairwell and sexually assaulted there. WABC-TV reported that the woman had been walking home after dropping off a child at a nearby school.
On Tuesday night, the NYPD released security camera footage of the person of interest walking in the area where the attack occurred. He is pictured wearing a dark-colored jacket, a gray hooded sweatshirt, a black and red baseball cap and red pants.
The NYPD Queens Special Victims Squad is investigating the case. A $10,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the attacker’s arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information regarding the person of interest’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
Updated on May 2 at 4:45 p.m.
