Three Teens Charged in Brutal Attack on 15-Year-Old Girl in Queens Subway Station
Last week, three 16-year-old girls allegedly stomped, beat, and tased a 15-year-old girl inside a Queens subway station, in what Queens DA Melinda Katz described as a shocking display of bullying and brutality.
The victim, a sophomore at William Cullen Bryant High School, was on her way to the 46th Street M and R train station around 3 p.m. on June 2 when the group of teens followed her and launched a vicious attack on her. They cornered her on the staircase, assaulting her by punching, kicking, and stomping on her head, face, and body. They also attempted to steal her backpack, according to the DA’s office.
After the attack, the victim was hospitalized but is now in recovery. Two of the teens, both juniors at the same school and residents of Elmhurst, were arrested and arraigned on charges including attempted gang assault and attempted robbery in connection to the incident. They have been placed into an intensive community monitoring program supervised by probation.
If convicted, the teens could face up to 15 years in prison. Judge Bruna DiBiase has scheduled their next court appearance for June 18.
Meanwhile, a third 16-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday, with an arraignment expected later in the day.
Queens DA Melinda Katz condemned the attack, stating, “A high school student was mercilessly tased, kicked, punched, and stomped on by a mob of fellow students at a train station after dismissal from William Cullen Bryant High School. This will not be acceptable behavior here in Queens, and I will hold students accountable for this behavior to the extent the law allows.”
She added, “We are grateful that the victim is recovering. The investigation is continuing into the conduct of other individuals involved in the incident.”
These disturbing events highlight the increase in youth violence in New York City, as revealed by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Tisch attributed the rise in youth violence to the state’s “Raise the Age” law, which has been a subject of controversy.
