Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
“Hate crimes in the most diverse county in the world undermine the very fabric of this great borough and will never be tolerated,” DA Katz said.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced that a 16-year-old girl has been charged with assault as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly assaulting a 57-year-old woman on a public bus near the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard last month. An apprehended juvenile female has also been charged; a third female remains unapprehended.
District Attorney Katz said, “As alleged, this defendant, as well as two other individuals, carried out a vicious assault on a public transit rider simply because of the victim’s race. Hate crimes in the most diverse county in the world undermine the very fabric of this great borough and will never be tolerated. The defendant is now charged with assault as a hate crime and will be held to account for her alleged actions.”
The defendant, of Murray Avenue, in Syracuse, was arraigned last week before Queens Criminal Court Judge Joseph Casper on a seven-count complaint charging her with assault in thesecond and third degree as a hate crime, assault in the second and third degree, menacing in the third degree as a hate crime, aggravated harassment in the second degree and menacing. If convicted, the defendant faces 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison.
Photo Courtesy of Google
The victim was assaulted on a bus traveling Woodhaven Boulevard near Jamaica Avenue.
Katz said that, according to video surveillance footage and information provided by the complainant, at approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 9, the victim indicated that she was sitting near the rear of the Q53 bus and was approached by three unknown females, the defendant, the apprehended juvenile and an unapprehended female who was holding a shopping bag. The unapprehended other looked directly at her and stated, “I hate white people” and “hates white people’s skin.” As they continued riding, the bus passed a cemetery and the unapprehended other stated to the victim, “I am going to kill you, this is where I’m going to bury you.”
As the bus came to a stop near the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard, the apprehended juvenile along with the unapprehended other who was carrying a shopping bag both spat on the victim. The unapprehended other then allegedly hit the victim repeatedly in the head with the shopping bag. The defendant, along with the apprehended other allegedly punched the victim several times in her head and fled the bus together.
The victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for her injuries, including a deep laceration on the right side of her head which required three staples close.
