Residents in the North Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx are expressing fear and anxiety following a brutal rape of a 13-year-old girl in Van Cortlandt Park and a significant increase in sexual assaults in the area. The attack, which occurred Thursday, is part of a troubling trend that has seen rapes in the New York Police Department's 50th Precinct more than double this year.
According to police statistics, there were 22 reported rapes within the 50th Precinct between January 1 and June 21, compared to 10 during the same period last year. The assault on the teenager is not yet included in these figures, which represent an increase of over 120%.
The young victim was reportedly grabbed as she exited a bus near Broadway and West 261st Street around 10 p.m. Her assailant then dragged her into a wooded area of Van Cortlandt Park, where the assault took place before the suspect fled. Police have released surveillance video of a man they believe to be the suspect, described as wearing a white hoodie and jeans.
Local residents describe a growing sense of unease. "I have to walk with my wife to the store now," one resident, who asked to be identified only as Eli, told the New York Post. "Pretty much anytime she leaves the house, I have to be with her. She’s not comfortable at all outside."
Another resident living near the park described the area as "a jungle," citing concerns about drugs and isolated sections within the park where people "do what they want." The park, a popular local spot, has become a focal point for community anxiety.
Nursing assistant Lincola expressed shock at the incident, stating, "You wouldn’t expect that to happen in a nice neighborhood. I take this bus every day during the week. Nothing bad had happened since I moved here."
The NYPD is appealing to the public for information regarding the suspect and has provided contact numbers for their Sex Crimes Hotline and the Crime Stoppers Hotline. The victim was taken to a local hospital and reported in stable condition following the assault.