Sexual assault in Queens: NYPD investigates rape of 13-year-old girl in Kissena Park in Flushing

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC)– New York City police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a secluded area of ​​Kissena Park, in Queens, in what one police official called “a parent's case.” nightmare.”

The incident happened Thursday around 3:30 p.m. in Flushing Park.

Police said two classmates, a girl and a 13-year-old boy, were in the park near Colden Street and Kalmia Avenue when they were approached by a man who pulled out a “large knife machete type” and forced them into the woods.

The individual then took the cell phones of the two victims, tied the wrists of the boy and the girl with a shoelace and sexually assaulted the woman before fleeing.

The teens were taken to hospital in stable condition after returning to school to tell what happened to them.

Investigators found the shoelace used to tie the children's hands, as well as a water bottle left by the rapist.

“As a father, who has been a member of this department for many years, this incident is a nightmare for parents,” said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.

Authorities described the suspect they are looking for as a man in his 20s, 5'5″ tall, with curly hair, wearing a black shirt, black pants, red sneakers and a green backpack. . He appeared to be wearing braces and a large tattoo on his chest depicting either a wild boar or a pig.

“The entire police department is focused on obtaining justice for this young survivor,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.

The news of what happened shook students and parents.

And residents of this usually quiet neighborhood are horrified to see Kissena Park become a crime scene.

“This neighborhood is very safe. It's a good community,” one resident told Eyewitness News. “And seeing, hearing that, actually… it's not… it's not a good name for the community, you know. And people are going to be very concerned about what's going on. “

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888- 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at X @NYPDTips.

READ MORE: New Video of Suspects Linked to NYC Vandalism

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