$10,000 Reward Offered As Search Continues For Person Of Interest In Queens Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A $10,000 reward is being offered for information as police search for a person of interest in connection with a brutal attack on a woman in Queens.
Surveillance video released by police shows a man walking down the sidewalk as he looks around. Police say he is a person of interest in the beating and sexual assault of a woman in Kew Gardens Hills Monday morning.
Do you recognize the person in this video? Help us identify him. We are offering up to a $10,000 reward. This is in regard to the sexual assault of a 52-year-old woman near 72nd Road/Kissena Blvd, #Queens on April, 30th. Call #800577TIPS pic.twitter.com/s5gqRzuPnl
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 2, 2018
Police said the 52-year-old woman was found at the bottom of an outdoor stairwell unconscious with trauma to her face and body. Authorities said it happened shortly after she dropped off a child at a nearby school.
"I'm very upset about it," said resident Barry Rosenbloom. "It is a horrible thing. I feel terrible and it's very scary."
Police are putting up flyers in Kew Gardens Hills, offering a $10,000 reward for information connected to the brutal attack and rape of a 52-yr-old woman Monday morning, after she dropped off a child at a nearby school @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/oKbxwiPJRS
— Natalie Duddridge (@NatDuddridgeTV) May 2, 2018
Investigators believe a man had been following the victim and then dragged her to a building near 72nd Road and Kissena Boulevard where she was attacked so badly, she's almost unrecognizable.
As of Wednesday morning, police say the victim is improving but she's still not alert enough to give police a description of the suspect.
"I don't understand how that happened in that time of day and nobody saw something because it's a pretty busy area there's businesses," Rosenbloom said.
WANTED: The individual below is a person of interest in the 4-30-18 sexual assault & brutal attack of a woman in her early 50s. Victim was found unconscious in a stairwell near 72nd Rd/ Kissena Blvd, Queens. We need your help finding him. Call anonymously 1-800-577-TIPS Please RT pic.twitter.com/bIfmr95NGz
— Chief Kenneth Corey (@NYPDChiefOfDept) May 2, 2018
Someone out there knows this guy — the #NYPD needs to talk to him ASAP about Monday morning's brutal attack on a woman in @NYPD107Pct. Crime Stoppers pays????for anonymous tips leading to arrest/indictment. Help us make all our neighborhoods safer. #800577TIPS ☎️#YourCityYourCall https://t.co/vIhAFEvNyS
— Commissioner Sewell (@NYPDPC) May 2, 2018
Authorities say the woman did not live in the building where she was attacked, but somewhere nearby.
So far, investigators say the attack appears to be random.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.