68-year-old woman in critical condition after punching attack, robbery on church steps in Queens
JAMAICA HILLS, Queens (WABC) -- A 68-year-old woman is in critical condition after becoming a victim in a brutal punching attack and robbery in Queens on Sunday.
Police say the attack happened just 8:30 a.m. at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in front of 84-35 152 Street in Jamaica.
The victim was followed from behind and when she reached the top of the stairs, the suspect jumped in front of her and knocked her down so hard she went airborne.
The suspect was captured on surveillance camera.
EMS took the victim to Booth Memorial Hospital following the attack.
Head Priest Konstantinos Kalogridis said that the woman is awake and recovering.
"I visited her yesterday at the hospital. She was alert. She was conscious. I gave her, you know, a blessing, gave her holy communion and gave her a little prayer and an icon," he said.
Meanwhile, the thief was able to get away with a cellphone, credit cards and $300 in cash before fleeing the scene in the victim's 2006 Nissan Altima.
The suspect was described as 18-25 years old, 5'8" and medium build. He was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt under a black jacket, black pants, black face mask and black sneakers with red trim.
Anyone with information in regard to 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).
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