Queens News - Local News

Elderly Woman Attacked in Broad Daylight Near Steve Madden Location  Subscribe in a reader By Dan Gesslein, August 31, 2020  An elderly woman was attacked in broad daylight near a Steve Madden location, and the attack was caught on camera.  The NYPD released surveillance video of the man who attacked at 76-year-old woman on August 19. At around 12:20 pm, the suspect approached the elderly woman asking for directions in front of 38-30 Woodside Avenue, across from the fashion retailer Steve Madden. He then ripped the necklace off her neck and fled.  The victim sustained scratches on her neck.  Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.

Public Health Advocate Mark Godfrey Supports Diversity and People Living with HIV Mark Godfrey Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson, August 25, 2020 Mark Godfrey, a resident of Ozone Park, Queens, knows that when it comes to healthcare, not everyone feels empowered or understands how to access the care they need. And as the coronavirus crisis continues to show us, that’s especially so for people of color. Mr. Godfrey has two decades’ experience advocating for the complex, comprehensive health care needs of people living with HIV—including himself. Since he was first diagnosed in 2000, Godfrey has worked with at-risk individuals and communities as a Consumer Representative on the Housing Works Executive Board Of Directors, a member of the New York-Presbyterian Consumer Advisory Board, a peer educator at Housing Works and, most recently, as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate for The Alliance for Positive Change. “We can't just treat the bodies, we must unde...

Queens Martial Arts Instructor Pled Guilty to Raping Student in Dojo Hector Quinchi Subscribe in a reader A Queens Martial Arts instructor will spend the next 7 years in jail after pleading guilty to raping his 12-year-old student inside his Sunnyside Tae Kwon Do studio. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Hector Quinchi, of Woodside, Queens has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to rape and other charges. The 37-year-old martial arts instructor had repeated sexual contact with an underage victim between August and October 2019 in the Tae Kwon Do studio where he taught.   District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “This defendant was supposed to teach this youngster how to defend herself, but he was the one from whom she needed protection. He manipulated a child too young to consent to sex. The Court has sentenced him to prison for his reprehensible actions. My Office will not tolerate adults who abuse their positions of trust ...

Subscribe in a reader Gun Buyback Event Tomorrow                                      Following the success of last week’s Gun Buyback program, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz is hosting another buyback event tomorrow. The Gun Buyback event will be held on Saturday at 2:45 at Macedonia Baptist Church at 330 Beach 67th Street Avenue, Queens. District Attorney Katz said, “We had a very successful gun buy back event last week – 117 operable pistols and long guns were removed from our communities. We want to do it again and take even more firearms off our streets. To reverse the recent spike in gun violence, it will take all of us working together. Each gun turned in tomorrow, is a potential life saved.” People with a legal or illegal gun are invited to trade it in for a reward. ...

Queens Man Stalked, Raped Woman Walking Home from Bus Photo courtesy of NYPD Subscribe in a reader A Queens man who stalked a woman on a city bus, and then viciously raped her on the sidewalk has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.  Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Matthew Luna, 27, of Long Island City has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for pursuing and raping a woman shortly after she exited a bus in Sunnyside on the night of February 15, 2019.  Luna had pled guilty to the attack back in January.  District Attorney Katz said that on February 15, 2019, the defendant boarded a city bus where he first spotted the 20-year-old woman. He then followed her when she exited the bus near 54 th Street and Skillman Avenue.  Moments later, Luna approached her and asked for directions to a nearby subway station. The defendant continued talking to the woman, telling her she was pretty and asking for a hug. Startled by the def...

Guman Wore Black Lives Matter Gear to Gas Station Stickup-NYPD Says  Subscribe in a reader By Dan Gesslein, August 19, 2020  A gunman decked out in Black Matter gear robbed a Queens gas station and now the NYPD is searching for him and two other men wearing equally attention grabbing fashion.   At around 8:55 pm on July 23, two men walked into the Mobil Gas Station at 32-09 21 Street. They displayed a black handgun and walked behind the sales counter. The robbers ordered the 65-year-old clerk to hand over cash.  The stickup artists removed $450 from the cash register and the victim’s cell phone.   Police released photos taken from a surveillance camera. One of the suspects is seen wearing a black baseball cap and t-shirt with the words “Black Lives Matter” on both. He was also wearing dark shorts and black and white sneakers. He was wearing a black mask at the time.  The other suspect is a bald man with an athletic bu...

Perv Pleasures Himself on Subway Subscribe in a reader By Dan Gesslein, August 11, 2020 The NYPD is asking for the public’s help in trying to catch a subway perv on the “R” Line. Investigators released surveillance video of the man they are searching for in regards to public lewdness on a subway train.  At around, 9:30 pm on August 5, a 27-year-old woman was riding the eastbound “R” train when she saw a man pleasuring himself. According to police, the man was rubbing his groin over his shorts.  The suspect got out off the train at the Elhurst Avenue station and fled. However, he did not escape before his image was caught on surveillance cameras at the station.  Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly conf...