What to Know
- A 13-year-old boy was sexually attacked behind a Queens deli over the weekend by a man known around the neighborhood as 'Mel,' police say
- The suspect forced the boy behind Hands Deli on Merrick Boulevard in Laurelton, where they engaged in sex acts, according to the NYPD
- Cops described the man as bald, being about six feet tall and last seen wearing a Mets hat; investigators urge witnesses to call police
A man known around a Queens neighborhood as “Mel” is being sought by police after they say he sexually attacked a teen boy and then forced the victim to perform a sex act on him.
Cops claim on Sunday around 5:30 p.m. the suspect forced the 13-year-old boy to go behind Hands Deli on Merrick Boulevard in Laurelton, where he attacked the boy.
In an interview with News 4 New York on Wednesday, the boy's mother recounted what her son told her.
"He first saw him in the store and he said, 'What's up, big guy?'" the mother said. "The man asked, 'What school do you go to?' He said [that one], he said 'My daughter wants go here."
"He asked, 'Do you play football? Because I'm a coach,'" she said. "Give me your number so I can talk to your mom about playing football."
As the boy was about to walk away, the man allegedly asked him, "Do you want to go somewhere private? I won't tell anyone," according to the boy's mother.
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"That's when he took him to the back of the alley," the boy's mother recounted, her voice trembling. "He hit my son in the head and forced himself on him."
The man then fled the area. The boy returned home crying.
"He said, 'Mom, mom, a man just assaulted me,' and he used the word rape," the mother said. "I said, 'What? Call the police!'"
The boy was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated and then released.
No weapon was involved, police said.
Officials said the man is only known around the neighborhood by his nickname “Mel.” They added that people in the area see him around, but have do not know where he lives.
Authorities described the man as bald, being about 6 feet tall and 250 pounds, last seen wearing a Mets hat. Investigators urge witnesses to call police with tips.
"He said he is a father so I don't know how someone who claims he is a father would do this to an innocent child and take away their innocence, and take away their manhood," the boy's mother said. "You need to be off the street and away from society forever. Not for a long time. Forever."
