12-year-old girl punched in the face and robbed in Coney Island, Brooklyn

CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (WABC) -- More than four days after the unthinkable attack, Quintero's face is still throbbing, but the emotional pain will last so much longer.

Quintero was assaulted and robbed on Monday around 3:30 in the afternoon on Stillwell Ave. on Coney Island. The thief ended up snatching cilantro, a cupcake and three dollars.

"He should deserve being in jail, because I don't want him to hurt other people," Quintero adds.

Quintero says she went to the store for her mother. As soon as she left, police say a teenager approached her on the street and kept asking her if she was cold. He is believed to be about 15 years old.

The suspect was seen in surveillance images wearing black clothing, carrying a black and red book bag.

Quintero says she ignored him, but he wouldn't go away.

"I thought it was weird why he was following me," she said.

Quintero says her gut instincts told her right away something was wrong - which is why she stopped in front of McDonald's, and acted like someone was about to pick her up. She says the suspect kept following her, and then pulled her into an alley. Quintero says the suspect tried to choke her until she passed out, but she fought back.

The suspect punched her and robbed her. Neighbors heard her cries for help, and the suspect took off.

14-year-old Alex Quintero, the victim's older brother says he thought this would never happen to them.

"I'm scared that it might happen to me one day, or happen to her again," he said.

The 12-year-old, meanwhile, now having to sleep with her mother just to feel safe.

"I think about it every time, because I can't sleep - because I always think of it," she said.

Quintero says that the route is one she takes often - every day when she goes to school. She says now when she has to pass the alley, she crosses to the other side.