A man in a blue MTA baseball cap lured a 9-year-old girl into his car at a Queens supermarket, then drove her to a secluded spot where he sexually abused her, police said Friday.
Cops have released surveillance images of the portly perpetrator, hoping someone will recognize him.
“This predator is the epitome of evil. It is almost unfathomable that such evil could take hold in a city we call home,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said on X Thursday night. “The NYPD will not rest until this fiend is locked up behind iron bars.”
The little girl was shopping inside a Key Food with her grandmother near the corner of 213th St. and Jamaica Ave. in Queens Village at about 7:20 p.m. Thursday when the suspect, who is believed to be in his 60s, approached her and lured her into his car, a four-door Honda Civic sedan, cops said.
At the time the man approached, the girl was alone as her grandmother went to use a bathroom in the supermarket.
Once she was in his car, he took her to a nearby location where he “forced the victim to perform a lewd act,” police said. He then returned her to the corner where he abducted her before driving off.
The grandmother and store workers were frantically searching for the girl inside and outside the supermarket as the child was returned, officials said.
The child was taken to an area hospital for treatment and observation.
Cops scouring the area recovered surveillance footage of the suspect, who is described as having a heavy build. At the time of the incident, he was wearing glasses, a pink shirt, blue jeans and a blue MTA hat.
It was not immediately clear if the suspect is an MTA employee.
Daughtry said he was “disgusted” after hearing about the Queens abduction and sexual assault.
“Heinous crimes such as these must be swiftly brought to justice. We cannot have these acts happening in our community!” Daughtry wrote. “To the perpetrator – Our elite detectives and skilled officers know your face and they are on the streets scouring for you. But it won’t take long, because I know the community will not tolerate this and they will identify you and out you.
“We will give this little girl justice,” he said.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.