A cowardly individual attempted to shield his face from cameras on Friday night after being apprehended by authorities for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in a stairwell of a Brooklyn public housing building. Eric McMichael, 27, was seen wearing a gray plaid shirt, gray shorts, and thick white tights as he tried to evade the flashing cameras while being escorted out of Brooklyn’s Special Victims precinct and taken into custody on charges of rape and sexual abuse for the brutal assault on the young girl.
The incident took place on Thursday evening when the accused perpetrator approached the preteen as she entered her building at Cooper Houses on Morgan Avenue near Jackson Street in Williamsburg. The stranger threatened the girl, stating, “I’m going to violate you,” before pushing her to the ground and instructing her to bend over as he carried out the horrific sexual assault.
Upon the arrival of another individual in the stairwell, the assailant fled the scene, leaving the victim in a state of distress. The young girl was promptly taken to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition following the traumatic ordeal.
After an extensive search, authorities apprehended McMichael on Friday afternoon, charging him with rape, burglary, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child. The 27-year-old suspect has a history of prior convictions, including rape and burglary in 2019, as well as grand larceny and robbery charges in 2023.
The arrest of McMichael comes as a relief to the community, providing a sense of justice for the victim and her family. The swift action taken by law enforcement in capturing the perpetrator serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation in ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable members of society.
