Manhunt for sexual abuse of 13-year-old girl in a New York City park

NEW YORK — The New York Police Department has launched a large-scale manhunt for a man who allegedly tied up a boy and a girl in Kissena Park in Queens and sexually abused one of them.

The man reportedly asked the two 13-year-old children to follow him into the woods near the park in Flushing immediately after they left school on Thursday.

They refused, but he threatened them with “a large, machete-like knife.” police said at a press conference on Friday.

“As a father and long-time member of this department, this incident is every parent’s nightmare,” said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.

Suspect tied child’s hand with shoelaces, police say

The man dragged the children to a secluded area of ​​the park, where he tied their hands with a shoelace and then sexually abused the girl, police said.

“The children were forced at knifepoint to follow him into a secluded area of ​​the park, where he tied the boy and girl’s hands together with a shoelace. The perpetrator then sexually assaulted the 13-year-old girl,” said NYPD Criminal Investigation Chief Joseph Kenny.

Suspect stole children’s cell phones, police said

Police said the children returned to school after the incident and told a school district official what happened. They are said to be doing better now.

“The perpetrator ordered both victims to wait at the crime scene for twenty minutes while he fled the scene on foot after stealing both children’s cell phones,” Kenny said.

When investigators were called to the scene, they said they found a shoelace and a water bottle that the suspect may have left behind.

NYPD searches for surveillance video of suspect

NYPD drone teams have been dispatched to the area and cameras are being installed around the park. Police are searching for surveillance footage of the suspect.

“We will stop at nothing to bring this monster to justice,” said Kaz Daughtry, NYPD deputy chief of operations.

“We will be sending a lot of officers to the area to help ease fears and keep an eye on the park,” said John Chell, chief of patrol for the NYPD.

Police publish sketch of suspect

NYPD releases sketch of wanted man on X.

The suspect was described as a man in his twenties with curly hair, braces and a tattoo of an animal with red eyes and a horn on his chest.

Police offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or DM on Twitter, @NYPDTipsAll calls are treated confidentially.