Cops last week searched for evidence and clues inside London Planetree Playground after a teen boy was stabbed in the park in a gang attack. They have one suspect in custody. Forum Photo by Robert Stridiron.
An Ozone Park man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a teen boy last week in a nearby playground, according to a city parks advocate and court records.
Kevin Ortiz, 22, was remanded into custody last Thursday after his arraignment on four felony charges and one misdemeanor, including attempted murder and first-degree gang assault.
A 16-year-old boy was stabbed twice in the abdomen around 11:30 a.m. last Tuesday during a gang altercation in London Planetree Playground on 89th Street near Atlantic Avenue. After he was wounded, the boy ran roughly three blocks to a Burger King restaurant on Atlantic and 92nd Street where he was treated by first responders and then rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
According to Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates, investigators are still hunting down at least five more suspects.
London Planetree has been a source of concern in recent months, police said last week.
“The park is on our radar,” said Lt. Courtney Nilan, Special Operations coordinator for the 102nd Precinct. “Groups of youth are getting into fights with each other.”
Nilan went on to say that they will be “beefing up police presence in the park,” but not because of the stabbing.
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