A 16-year-old boy was arrested for pushing a 68-year-old woman down the stairs of a Queens church and stealing her purse. The incident occurred outside St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Briarwood. The teen faces charges of robbery, assault, grand larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property. Surveillance footage captured the young man shoving the victim, identified as Irene Tahliambouris, down the steps and stealing her purse before driving away in her car.
A relative of the victim expressed relief at the arrest of the teenager, urging lawmakers to take a tougher stance on crime. He highlighted the need for legal reforms to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions. The family of Tahliambouris stated that she was in critical condition and remains in the hospital following the attack. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support her during her recovery.
In response to the incident, authorities increased patrols around the church to ensure the safety of parishioners in the area. Father Konstantinos Kalogridis expressed shock and concern over the violent nature of the crime, stating that such incidents were uncommon in the neighborhood. The community was described as being fearful, angry, and sad about what had happened to the elderly woman.
The teenager’s identity was not released due to his status as a minor. The arrest of the individual was seen as a step towards justice for the victim and her family. The crime was condemned as an example of how criminals take advantage of lenient laws to escalate their actions without fear of consequences. Calls for legal reforms to address the issue of crime were made in response to the incident.
The family of the victim remains hopeful that the criminal justice system will deliver justice in this case. They are focused on supporting Tahliambouris during her recovery and are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. The arrest of the teenager was seen as a positive development in the pursuit of justice for the victim and a step towards preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The incident at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church underscored the need for increased vigilance and security measures in the community to ensure the safety of its residents. The violent nature of the crime shocked and saddened many, prompting a call for stronger action against criminals. The arrest of the teenager was a significant development in the case, offering hope for justice and accountability for the victim and her family.
