Police arrest and charge suspect in Coney Island stairwell rape, robbery

CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police have arrested and charged the suspect wanted in the attack and rape of a woman at gunpoint inside her Brooklyn apartment building late Sunday, and also for a robbery that occurred soon after.

31-year-old Raji Wilson is now charged with 1st degree rape, 1st degree robbery, criminal sexual act, criminal possession of a firearm, assault, and a parole violation for the first incident. He faces additional charges of robbery, criminal possession of a firearm and a parole violation in the second incident.

The first incident happened around 9 p.m. inside a building in Coney Island, where investigators say the suspect followed a 20-year-old woman into an elevator and onto the floor where she lives. Authorities say Wilson then pulled out a gun and attacked the young mother, pistol-whipping her in the face and dragging her into the stairwell. There, he allegedly raped her and stole her cash and keys before fleeing down the staircase.

The victim was taken to Coney Island Hospital for evaluation.

Here is video of the suspect from inside the apartment building:


Around an hour later, police say Wilson held up another woman inside her building on West 12th Street. The 46-year-old female victim and the suspect exited an elevator on the 16th floor, where he displayed a firearm and removed $30 from her pocket book.

Here is a surveillance photo from that robbery:



There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).