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Boy, 12, Previously Arrested For 2 Gunpoint Robberies, Arrested For Allegedly Beating Woman, 80, Trying To Set Her On Fire

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) --  A 12-year-old boy is accused of assaulting an elderly woman in Brooklyn three separate times and tonight, he's facing charges.

The latest attack happened on Tuesday, May, 20 at around 12:40 p.m. in front of the alleged victim's Gravesend home.

The 80-year-old woman was cleaning the front yard of her home when she was confronted by the boy.

The victim, who does not understand English, didn't understand what the boy said so he punched her in the face causing a black eye and swelling, police said.

One of the woman's grandsons answered the door Wednesday afternoon but did not want to talk about the alleged attack.


Sources say the same kid allegedly attacked the same woman two other times recently, CBS2's Alice Gainer reports.

About a week ago, the victim was cleaning in front of her home when the boy attacked her with a metal rod, hitting her in the head, police said.

Her grandson heard her cry out and he chased the boy but lost sight of him.

On another occasion, he allegedly used a lighter to try to set fire to the coat she was wearing.

Police searched the area and found the same boy had been caught on video at a nearby Chinese restaurant during a recent burglary, police said.

The restaurant's manager says the boy is trouble, and that surveillance video from early Sunday morning captured him stealing from a tip jar. For weeks he had taken pity on the boy, giving him free food until he mouthed off to a customer who wouldn't give him money.

Lu says the boy would hang around outside late at night.

"I told him 'you need to go home, it's midnight, very dangerous on the street'," he tells CBS2.

Police arrested the 12-year-old Wednesday morning. Detectives recognized him as being arrested for two gunpoint robberies in the area last year.

The victims also identified him from the video.

Charges are currently pending against the boy.

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