New York, April 15, 2024
Police have arrested a 16-year-old suspect in a brutal attack on an elderly woman outside her Greek Orthodox Church last week.
A 68-year-old woman was brutally attacked on the steps outside St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in the Briarwood section of Queens last Sunday, April 7.
Video footage shows a young man run up behind the woman as she walks up the steps. At the top, he punches her in the face, sending her flying back down the stairs. The woman, who has been identified by her family as Irene Tahliambouris, smacked her head on the concrete, suffering a skull fracture in addition to a black eye.
As she lay motionless, the attacker rifled through her pockets and stole her purse with $300, her phone, and her car keys. He then sped off in her car.
According to Irene’s family, she is “fighting for her life” in the hospital. They also noted that she was “showing signs of recognition, giving us hope.”
“She is such a sweet lady. She is a very humble low-key person,” said parish rector Fr. Konstantinos Kalogridos.
The young man was arrested four days after the attack and charged with assault, robbery, grand larceny, and possession of stolen property.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
