Senseless
A masked gunman shot and killed a woman inside of an 85th Street apartment during a robbery attempt on Oct. 1.
The suspect, dressed in black and hiding his face, kicked in the front door to the apartment, which is between 24th and 25th avenues, at around 5 am, said owner of the apartment, a 33-year-old man, who owns and operates a neighborhood pizzeria, cops said.
Once inside, the suspect pulled out a gun and forced the man into a back bedroom, where the victim and another witness were talking, all the while shouting, “Where is the money?”
Without waiting to hear the answer, the suspect fired one shot at the woman, whom cops described as a single mother in her early-to-mid 30s.
“I shot you!” he screamed, cops said.
The killer then pointed the handgun at the apartment owner, again shouting, “Where is the money?” The man led the suspect to the apartment’s refrigerator, pulled out approximately $9,000 from the freezer and handed it over to the suspect, who then fled down the stairs and out the front door.
The woman was pronounced dead a short time later, cops said.
Hurst hoods
In similar incidents, at least two other Bensonhurst residents were robbed at gunpoint inside of their homes on Oct. 1.
First, a 71st Street resident was held up at around 11:30 am. The 32-year-old victim was inside of the house, between 20th and 21st avenues, when two men kicked in her front door.
“Give me the money or I will kill you,” he threatened.
The second suspect then ransacked the entire apartment, grabbing cash and electronics before the two men jumped into a black car and sped away.
Later that day, at around 5 pm, two men brandishing guns entered a Bay 20th Street apartment through an unlocked door.
The 52-year-old tenant was inside the apartment, between Benson and Bath avenues, at around 5:30 pm when the suspects, dressed in black hooded sweatshirts and wearing masks, walked in, pointed a handgun at the victim and instructed him to get down on the ground.
The victim did as he was told, and the suspects searched the apartment but fled empty-handed a short time later.
Almost mugged
A man attempted to rob a woman as she walked down 73rd Street on Oct. 5.
The victim, 20, told cops she was at the corner of 16th Avenue when the suspect sneaked up on her from behind, shouting, “What’s wrong?” and grabbing at the strap of her purse.
The victim stayed calm and fought back, as she screamed for help and fought off the suspect before running away.
Child’s play
Cops arrested two teenagers accused of trying to grab a cellphone out of a child’s hand as he stood on 26th Avenue on Sept. 30.
The victim, just 11 years old, was at the corner of Bath Avenue at around 5 pm when the 15-year-old and 17-year-old suspects walked up to him. One suspect stood directly in front of him, blocking his path, and the other reached out and snatched the phone. The two then fled down 26th Avenue, but were arrested by police just a few blocks away.
Misdirection
A thief asked a man for directions and then robbed him on 64th Street on Sept. 30.
The 20-year-old good Samaritan told cops he was stopped between 23rd and 24th avenues just after midnight by a man who claimed he was trying to find Avenue P. When the victim paused to help, the suspect grabbed him by the neck and demanded money. He then grabbed the victim’s wallet and the gold chain from around his neck before running away.
Sex attack
Police arrested a man on suspicion of sexually assaulting and robbing a woman outside of a 16th Avenue subway station on Oct. 5.
The 35-year-old victim was walking away from the 71st Avenue D train station when she was stopped by a man at the corner of 76th Street. The suspect grabbed her from behind and forced her to the ground, where he molested her before grabbing her iPod and cell phone and fleeing.
He didn’t get far, though; cops arrested him just three blocks away.
Pointed out
A 12-year-old boy was robbed at knifepoint in the afternoon on Oct. 4.
The victim told cops he was walking home down 83rd street, between 20th and 21st avenues, at around 5 pm when two men walked up behind him and pushed him into a fence.
The thugs then pulled out a knife and pointed it at the boy before grabbing his phone and running away.
— Emily Lavin
