Sketch of suspect in rape of 13-year-old girl in Queens Park released

Mira Wassef, Finn Hoogensen and Nicole Johnson

5 hours ago

FLUSHING, Queens (PIX11) – Police have released a sketch of the suspect who allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl in a Queens park on Thursday.

The suspect allegedly threatened two 13-year-old children with a machete-like knife and tied their hands together with a shoelace before raping the young girl in Kissena Park in Flushing, authorities said.

According to NYPD Criminal Investigation Chief Joseph Kenny, the suspect approached the teens around 3 p.m. in a field in Kissena Park near the corner of Colden Street and Kalmia Avenue and told them to follow him into the woods.

When the children refused, he told them, “Shut up,” Kenny said.

The suspect then pulled out a large knife that resembled a machete and forced the boy and girl to follow him into the woods. The man then tied their wrists together with a shoelace before sexually assaulting the girl, police said.

The suspect then stole their cell phones and told them to wait in the area for 20 minutes and then run away, Kenny said.

The victims, classmates who went to play soccer in the park after school, returned to campus to report the incident. Within minutes, investigators stormed the area and found the suspect’s shoelace and water bottle, police said. NYPD crime scene investigators continued to search the park on Friday.

According to NYPD Deputy Chief of Police Kaz Daughtry, police will also use two drones to search the area and install cameras around the park.

“We will stop at nothing to bring this monster to justice,” Daughtry said.

Police are asking residents to check their home surveillance systems while they are checking security cameras at neighborhood businesses. The NYPD is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information.

Police described the man as about 20 years old, short, with curly hair, braces and a tattoo on his chest depicting a wild boar or bull with red eyes. He was last seen wearing red sneakers and carrying a green backpack.

No arrests were made.