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NYPD: Teenager Beaten and Robbed at Astoria High School Sunday

Suspect (NYPD) and St. John’s

Feb. 13, 2018 By Tara Law

Police are searching for a man who allegedly followed a teenager into an Astoria high school on Sunday, before punching him repeatedly in the head and stealing his cellphone.

The victim, an 18-year-old male, walked into a building at St. John’s Preparatory High School–located at 21-21 Crescent St.–at around 6:40 p.m. The suspect allegedly followed him into an elevator and punched him several times in the head, police said. The man then grabbed the teenager’s phone and ran off.

The victim, who was left swollen and bruised from the attack, was treated for his injuries at Mt. Sinai Hospital and subsequently released.

The suspect is described as black, in his 20s and about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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45 Comments

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unknown

this is a school that has issues and is a diocesan school and you wonder why movies and tv series are allowed to use the building no security how do they shoot movies and series that go against the catholic church

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tammy

Very good point. That is why young people and many others do not respect the church anymore. They see dollar signs and quickly go against there own teachings (its a joke).

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Anonymous

What the hell does that have to do with a child being robbed? You’re the one with issues and if you’re trying to deflect from the facts you need to do a better job.

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juca

Socially it has a lot to do with it. In the sense, that people see what a sell out some institutions can be and there is no respect for the place. When you see schools and places of worship being robbed in Astoria it is cause for alarm.

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Anonymous

As a parent who had a child there (thankfully left after 1 year) I question why the “administration” does not reinvest in this school. They are constantly renting to movie/TV production company’s and rent “dorm” space making loads of $$$ along with the tuition. WHERE IS IT GOING? Honestly there is NO security there. Its either a secretary or a relative of someone on the administration (Vice Principal) The school has limited air conditioners during the hot months and the windows have not been replaced since the 60″s! The student parking has potholes. The list can go on. Unfortunately a child was traumatically injured for the lack of caring

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devon

You would think that after the recent shooting down the block the school would of put in place better safety measures to protect the students living in dorms and those that attend the school!! I think people around here have become so desensitized to crime and assaults that they believe it will never happen to them or a loved one.

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Antonis

True all that money that they charge and they can’t even upgrade the place , but most importantly for safety they must have security. Most schools today have safety measures in place.

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Anonymous

The school just completely modernized the gymnasium with an entirely new, expensive wood floor, basketball court, and paint, etc. Looks like a brand new gym. Each summer there is a new facilities project.

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Anonymous 2/15

Also – most importantly – SECURITY – should be the 1st priority. Has what happened in Florida last week not changed the administrations outlook? WOW

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Anonymous

The security is provided by the International Company renting the dorms on a Sunday. Not the school. The 18 year old was followed in when he was buzzed in through the locked dorm entrance, similiar to someone following behind someone being buzzed into an apartment building. There is a camera and someone from the agency viewing the camera before being buzzed in. The guy must have been behind the 18 year old and rushed the door when it opened. Sad and terrible situation which could have happened at the apartment buildings if he was going to enter there too.

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Mary

It is similiar to following an 18 year old into an apartment building on a Sunday evening. The victim was entering through the side dormitory entrance which is run by another company which rents from the school and I guess the man followed right behind him when he opened the door. I am glad he is doing OK.

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Vanessa

As a former student at St. John’s Prep. It’s lacking in security. That needs to be updated and changed. Yeah a receptionist at the front desk doesn’t count as safe. Someone needs to be keeping an eye on the students. Rather than the teachers. Especially if this happens again. Happy a witness intervened. But security needs to be added at the high school.

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bethany

The female receptionists/worker should be honored and praised for intervening during the assault.

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Antonis

We moved to Bayside from Astoria in 90s . Was best decision we ever made. We have great Korean neighbors who are hard working, and value safety.

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lina

We moved to Whitestone and rent out are house in Astoria. Best move we made for the sake of our children.

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Anthony Diaz

Nobody lives there. I graduated in 09.They had dorms upstairs but I thought it was for priest during retreats or something. But those doors were always open. I got head back there. Hi Alexandraaa

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Jim

Was there some event on Sunday at the school? Why is this article acting like it is normal to go to school on a Sunday night.

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Jim

I think it is obvious why entering a closed school on Sunday night would strike people as odd if the reason was not explained.

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Dominick Bilello

I went to this school. We have a foreign student program at the school. It was Probably a student going home

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harriet

Obviously there was an event! Schools are open beyond school days and hours for many reasons. Whether it be special programs, conferences, sports activities, a movie being filmed, etc. This wasn’t a break in! As the article clearly states the victim was followed into the school building. The thief was walking around looking for someone to rob!

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Indy R

I attended St. john’s before, and the victim is a foreign exchange student, who lives in the school along with others.

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vicky

Last month a man steals an iPhone and credit card from a jacket inside a house of worship in Astoria and now a teenager is robbed of his phone and beaten in a local school. Its alarming and sad.

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petro

I am glad this site posted an article and video about this incident because I could not understand how someone could randomly walk into a school. However, in the video you can see what appears to be a staff worker trying to help the young victim and push the assailant away. Schools in the area need to realize that Astoria is not what it used to be as far as safety is concerned and when they have special openings they need security guards to deter trespassers and criminals. The suspect was most likely walking around the neighborhood looking for a target. My parents live a few blocks away and I have been very concerned about their safety lately.

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daine

Overall crime is down throughout NYC but as our local precinct reported last month there has been an “uptick” in assaults around here. I think robberies are down because very few people carry cash on them nowadays. It is a reflection of how most people live and what they carry on them in public rather than better “policing.” The younger generation is using phones to pay for things and many older people are using credit cards which can be easily traced. However, that is not stopping some criminals.

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Ralph

Daine- It’s very difficult to “quantify ” much of the results of policing. There are many factors to take into consideration such as demographics, habit changes, social changes, etc. Nothing beatspaying attention to your surroundings.

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anna

The young adults and teens of today are wearing less expensive jewelry (if none) in public. This is also partly due to celebrities like Kim K. (who learned the hard way after being robbed) that is not smart to flaunt your jewelry. When I was growing up in Astoria, everyone wore gold necklaces, bracelets and earrings and carried cash in public. Grills, also called “grillz” was also very popular back then with some kids. Today, the only expensive item that most people carry are phones. But with passwords and tracking apps I still have no idea why thieves still try to rob them.

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Argiro

I saw this all over the news this morning. It is so sad what Astoria and the once quiet Ditmars area is like now. This is right next to the area where someone was shot by the fake UPS men in December.

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jjki

I did not realize how diverse the ditmars area is now until I saw the neighbors and bystanders being interviewed on the news about the UPS incident. Some may conclude that certain groups moving in are cultural oblivious to others by nurture and couldn’t care less about their neighbors unless they are of the same group which makes it easier for criminals to walk around and do what they do.

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Lisa

I can say without a shadow of a doubt you are incorrect at least in regards to our section of Ditmars. I live on Ditmars, literally a stones throw from the school. Our neighbors here, who are of diverse backgrounds, religions, etc., speak to each other and look out for one another. I am so upset that this poor young man was attacked and robbed. I read in another article that he is an exchange student from China. So far away from home and this happens to the kid. I wish there was a way to let him know he has people here who are not far away who want to give him a sense of security. If anyone knows how I could do that, please let me know.

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cassi

I jog by this area during the day. During the night, I avoid it. I would advise people to google Marine Terrace in Astoria and read some reviews which is so close to this area.

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