In the early hours of a recent Friday, a 50-year-old woman from Queens was sexually assaulted at knife-point by a man wearing a t-shirt with a “Scary Ghost Face” design, as per police records. The woman was returning home, walking on 162nd Street and 89th Avenue in Jamaica, when the attacker approached her from behind. He threatened her with a knife before assaulting her around 3 a.m.
The assailant, who was wearing a shirt with a graphic of a ghost holding a knife, fled the scene, heading south on 89th Avenue. The woman was then taken to a local hospital where she was reported to be in stable condition.
The incident has left the local community feeling unsettled. Dario Martinez, a retiree in his 80s who has lived in the area for over 20 years, expressed shock but not surprise at the incident. He cautioned about the risks of walking around the neighborhood at night, particularly for the elderly.
Another resident, an 82-year-old woman named Carmen, confessed to being scared of going outside. She mentioned that she avoids going out after 6 p.m. unless she has a vehicle for transportation.
Latrenda Frazier, a 58-year-old resident who looks after her elderly mother, took a more defiant stance. She stated that she would fight back fiercely if she were to be attacked, adding that she felt deeply for the victim.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned individual, aged between 20 and 30, standing at 5-foot-6 and weighing approximately 120 pounds with black hair. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap with a white Adidas logo, black and white Air Jordan 3 sneakers, and black pants. His black sweatshirt was notable for its red lettering stating, “Scary Ghost Face”.
The NYPD is encouraging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted online at the Crimestoppers website or on Twitter @NYPDTips.