New York City police are searching for a man in connection with the reported rape of a 7-year-old girl last week inside her Staten Island home.
The suspect, identified as Daniel Nieto, 32, sexually assaulted the girl at about 2:45 a.m. Thursday inside her home, police said. He entered through a back door, attacked the girl in her bedroom and then fled, investigators said.
Nieto was arrested on trespassing charges Thursday, but released before officers learned of the alleged rape. Police say the girl did not come forward about being sexually abused until Friday.
Neighbors were horrified.
"It's terrible that something could happen to a little girl," he said.
Joseph Napoli said, "I have daughters, I have grandkids. And that's horrible, just horrible."
Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of Nieto is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Local
-- Lori Bordonaro contributed ot this report.
