A 13-year-old girl getting off an MTA bus in Queens was attacked by a stranger who allegedly ran up to her and splashed a liquid in her face while saying something derogatory about white people, according to police.
The middle schooler was getting off the Q10 bus at Lefferts Boulevard and 101st Avenue in Lefferts Garden Tuesday afternoon when she was approached from behind by a man she didn't know, police said. He threw some sort of liquid in her face and made an anti-white remark.
"There was just a girl, hands in her face. I didn't really know what's going on -- cops were kind of surrounding her," said Bobby Chawla, a witness who worked across the street.
The girl reported burning to her eyes and was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.
"Whether it was acid or water were not sure but she did go to the hospital," said Chawla.
The girl's father, Vincent Evangelista, said that it was his "worst nightmare" when he got the call that his daughter had been attacked. But he said he is confident that the NYPD is going to bring the suspect to justice.
"She's not going to let this incident stop her from her life," he said. "She still has that love, charity esteem in her heart towards people realizing there are many, many good people out there."
The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
Local
The suspect is described as being about 30 years old, bald, last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with a red shirt underneath, royal blue pants and tan and brown boots.
Anyone with information about the man should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
