What to Know
- A woman was found brutally beaten and raped in an outdoor stairwell in Queens Monday morning, law enforcement sources say
- The NYPD released new, clearer surveillance images of the man they are looking to talk to who could be behind the heinous sex attack
- Cops have broadened their canvas in search of surveillance video; they're also looking into registered sex offenders in the area
The man suspected of beating and raping a 52-year-old woman in Queens last week, leaving her unconscious in a pool of blood at the bottom of an outdoor stairwell, is under arrest.
NYPD Chief of Detetctives Dermot Shea tweeted the capture of Ronald Williams on Tuesday afternoon. He was caught at a motel in Columbia, South Carolina.
"Fantastic work by members of @NYPDDetectives in tracking down & apprehending Ronald Williams today at a motel in South Carolina. Thanks to community members who assisted with valuable information. That’s exactly how cops & all NYers can share responsibility for our public safety," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said in a separate tweet.
Shea later said at a news conference that the NYPD was in the process of bringing Williams back to the city on a probation violatin.
Last week the NYPD announced a $10,000 reward for information in the heinous April 30 sex attack near 72nd Road and Kissena Boulevard in Kew Gardens Hills.
UPDATED PHOTOS: The individual below is a person of interest in the 4-30-18 sexual assault & brutal attack of a 52-yr-old woman. Victim was found unconscious in a stairwell near 72nd Rd/Kissena Blvd, Queens. $10,000 Reward as detailed below. Call 1-800-577-TIPS Please RT pic.twitter.com/dgXSKSxLy7
— Chief Dermot F. Shea (@NYPDDetectives) May 3, 2018
"We find this to be an extremely violent and random attack at a time of day we don't normally see something like this," NYPD SVU Captain Elisa Anders said at the time.
The woman's pants were removed in the attack, and detectives were also seen removing a condom wrapper from the scene.
The shocking attack has unnerved residents in the area. Neighbors said last week they didn't recognize the suspect.
"To see something like this happen in the neighborhood, it's a little bit scary because we have young kids. So we definitely want to know who did this, and why this happen in this community?" said Karlena Arthurs.
