Suspect Charged In Rape Attempt On International Student In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man has been arrested and charged in the attempted rape of an international college student as she walked home from a Halloween party in Queens.
David Diaz, 24, of Queens, was charged with attempted rape in the attack early Nov. 1.
The 24-year-old victim was attacked while returning home from a Halloween party around 4:30 a.m. Friday, CBS 2's Weijia Jiang reported. The suspect apparently followed the victim after she got off the bus and ambushed her on the corner of 152nd Street and Melbourne Avenue in Flushing, investigators said.
"She gets off the bus and he punches her in the head and attempts to drag her into the bushes," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at the time.
The suspect allegedly punched the woman in the back of the head and covered her mouth as he threatened her. He then allegedly pushed her to the ground and tried to take her clothes off.
The victim's screams woke her neighbor who interrupted the attack.
"It happened so fast," said the man, who doesn't want to reveal his name. "I just instinctively opened up my window, and yelled at him, I called 911, and the cops were on the way."
The suspect ran south toward Jewel Avenue, police said. Police did not reveal how Diaz was located and apprehended.
The victim suffered a cut to her neck and swelling to her forehead, police said.
Sue Wei, who lives with the victim, said her roommate was distraught after the attack, which happened just a few doors from their house.
"She was knocking on the door, I opened it, she started crying," Wei said. "She couldn't even speak complete sentences, just told me someone hit her and tried to rape her."
Both women are international students from China at Queens college. The victim had only been in the country for three months.
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