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Man Charged In Brutal Robbery Of 81-Year-Old Blind Man In Queens

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect was charged Tuesday in the violent robbery of an 81-year-old blind man in Queens back in October.

Thomas Fullwood, 29, of the Bronx, was charged Tuesday with two counts of second-degree robbery in the Oct. 26 attack, police said. A second suspect remained at large.

Queens Robbery Suspect
A surveillance image of a suspect still at large as of Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the robbery of an 81-year-old blind man in Sunnyside, Queens. (Credit: NYPD)

The victim, Bill Eichhorn, left church and walked to a Chase Bank on Queens Boulevard near 46th Street in Sunnyside around 9:30 a.m. that day. He had just withdrawn money to buy a newspaper and coffee when he was beaten and robbed of $100 and his debit card, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported at the time.

"Just as I got the dollars in my hand, two guys came -- one on either side -- and said, 'Give it up,'" Eichhorn said. "I didn't give it up right away so they got a little angry I guess and that's when they popped me."

When asked what he'd like to see happen to the suspects, Eichhorn said, "Give them a whack like they gave me, but other than that I hope they give them whatever the law would allow. I guess they should at least get a couple of days in jail."

In addition to finding the suspects, Eichhorn's family members said last month that they wanted to find a Good Samaritan who helped him after the incident.

"My father was laying on the bank floor yelling for help, somebody heard his cries for help, came into the bank, helped him to his feet, called 911, waited with him until the police arrived and even escorted him to the 108th precinct," said Eichhorn's daughter, Mary Anne Gasparro. "To this date this person is unknown and my family is eternally grateful."

Anyone with information on the second suspect is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips to the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

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