A 9-year-old girl named Kimberly Tapia was physically assaulted by a homeless man, Jean Carlos Zarzuela, at Grand Central Terminal. The incident has left her traumatized and scared to go outside. Kimberly expressed her fear of something bad happening to her again and has stopped smiling as a result of the attack. The assault occurred while Kimberly and her mother were in the historic station’s dining concourse, with Kimberly being struck on the face and head by Zarzuela. The impact was so severe that it left Kimberly’s face red and swollen, with bruises on her body from falling.
Kimberly’s mother, Juana Tapia, described the harrowing experience of witnessing her daughter being assaulted by Zarzuela. She had just bought Kimberly a cookie and a croissant and was walking behind her daughter when the attack happened. The 36-year-old mother recalled her cousin alerting her to Kimberly’s fall and hearing her daughter crying in pain. Another woman informed them that a man had hit Kimberly, further escalating the situation. The incident caused Kimberly a great deal of physical pain and emotional distress, leading her to fear for her safety and well-being in the future.
Following the assault on Kimberly, Zarzuela was found on surveillance video fleeing the scene and was later apprehended by MTA Police at the Lexington Avenue-125th Street station in East Harlem, near a homeless shelter where he lived. It was discovered that Zarzuela had been previously arrested for a similar offense after allegedly punching a woman at Grand Central Terminal just days before the attack on Kimberly. The 54-year-old victim of the previous assault shared her experience of being punched by Zarzuela, which left her with injuries and significant trauma. As a result of the attack, she now only works from home and fears for her safety in public spaces.
Kimberly’s mother, originally from Mexico, expressed concern for her daughter’s emotional well-being in the aftermath of the attack. She noted that Kimberly no longer wants to leave the house, has stopped smiling, and is no longer as active as she used to be. The trauma of the assault has had a significant impact on Kimberly’s mental state and overall happiness. Zarzuela is currently in Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward on a $100,000 bond. The incident has raised concerns about the presence of homeless individuals with a history of violence in public spaces and the need for improved safety measures to protect vulnerable individuals like Kimberly from future attacks. The assault has left a lasting impact on Kimberly and her family and has highlighted the importance of addressing issues related to homelessness and mental health in society.
