Teen Arrested in Church Sucker Punch That Left Elderly Woman in Critical Condition

Churchgoer Knocked Down Stone Stairs, Robbed of Car by Teen, Cops Say 

The NYPD arrested a 16-year-old male in connection with an attack on an elderly woman outside a Queens church. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

Queens Voice 

April 12, 2024 

QUEENS - Cops arrested a 16-year-old for the vicious sucker punch attack on an elderly woman in front of a Queens church. The punch knocked the woman down the stone staircase of the church and left her in critical condition, cops said. 

The NYPD announced the arrest of a 16-year-old male in connection with the April 7th attack. The teen was charged with robbery, assault, grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon. 

At around 8:30 am on April 7, a 68-year-old woman was standing at the doors to the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Cops said a man walked up to the woman at the top of the staircase and then sucker punched her in the face. The blow caused the woman to fall backwards down the stone steps. 

As the victim lay helpless at the bottom of the stairs, cops said, the attacker removed her purse which contained $300 cash, cell phone and credit cards. The purse also contained the victim’s car keys. 

Cops said the attacker used the stolen car keys to gain access to the victim’s 2006 Nissan Altima and then drove off.

The victim was rushed to Booth Memorial Hospital where she is listed in critical condition.