Police have detained a teenage boy accused of knocking a woman down the steps outside a Queens church.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at Saint Demetrios Church on 152nd Street in Jamaica.
On video, the suspect runs ahead of the 68-year-old woman as she ascends the stairs to the church’s entrance. According to police reports, he then hit her in the face, forcing her to fall backwards down the stairs and into the sidewalk.
The culprit grabs the woman’s bag and appears to examine her pockets before fleeing. Police said the woman was carrying $300, a cell phone, a credit card, and auto keys in her backpack.
Police said he fled the scene in the victim’s 2006 Nissan Altima.
Police say they detained a 16-year-old child Thursday night and charged him with robbery, assault, grand larceny, and illegal possession of stolen property. Due to his juvenile status, we are not revealing his name at this time.
A local hospital received the victim in critical condition. She is still in the ICU, but her family reported Thursday that her condition is improving.
