Arrest in elderly robbery and attack in Astoria caught-on-camera

ASTORIA (WABC) -- Police have arrested the suspect in a violent robbery and assault of an elderly man in Queens that was caught on surveillance video.

37-year-old Charles Piccolo faces charges of robbery and assault.

The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in front of a convenience story on 31st Street in Astoria.

Authorities say the victim, 78-year-old Elias Bournias, was purchasing cigarettes from the front window when the suspect threw him to the ground and forcibly removed $400 in cash from him.

Bournias sustained an injury to the back of his head and was transported to Elmhurst Hospital, where he received stitches and was held overnight for observation.

He was released Wednesday afternoon and returned home to grateful family members.

Police say the suspect had been inside the deli for about 30 minutes and had seen Bournias take out the cash, and that's when he pounced, tackling Bournias outside, punching him the face and fleeing down the street. Bournias was still in good spirits, and while he admits he was being careless by exposing his cash, he said he never saw the attack coming.

"I didn't expect at 10 o'clock in the morning, on busy street with cops all the time," he said. "I didn't expect it, that's why I was careless. I wasn't careful."

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.