Suspect Arrested In Violent Robbery Of Man, 78, In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police arrested and charged a suspect Wednesday in a violent street robbery in Queens.
Charles Piccolo, 37, of Queens, was charged with second-degree robbery and assault in the attack, which happened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Magazines R Us convenience store on 31st Street near Ditmars Boulevard in the Ditmars-Steinway subsection of Astoria.
In surveillance video of the incident, the suspect is seen watching Elias Bournias, 78, pull out a roll of cash to buy cigarettes at the store's walk-up window, police said.
Search Continues For Suspect In Robbery Of Elderly Man In Queens
"He can see from the window that the guy had money -- I saw $100 bills in his hand, you know the guy," store clerk Bipin Mehta, who watched the incident unfold, told CBS2's Janelle Burrell.
That was when, police said, the suspect walked out of the store, approached the victim, threw him to the ground and stole $430 before running off.
As CBS2's Burrell reported, the attack happened so quickly that Bournias didn't even have time to react.
"When he saw me taking the money out, that's was right behind me," he said. "I really didn't get a chance to see him."
Bournias said he did not see the suspect coming at all. Store clerk Mehta said Bournias is one of his regular customers, and the attack on him all happened in a period of five seconds.
Bournias passed out, suffered an injury to the back of his head and was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center, police said. Doctors had to insert several staples in his head, and his condition was reported as stable.
"Probably put up some resistance and he knocked me on the cement, and I broke my head," Bournias said.
Mehta said the suspect had been lingering inside the store and wouldn't leave.
"I asked him, 'Why you are waiting here?' He said, 'It's too cold outside, and I have to wait for somebody,'" Mehta said. "And I had little doubt that he was up to something."
"Older guy, that makes me angry," a man who works across the street told 1010 WINS' John Montone.
Police from the 114th Precinct Anti-Crime Unit suspected that Piccolo might have been the attacker after reviewing the surveillance footage, the NYPD said. Piccolo has been arrested three times in the past year within the 114th Precinct on drug possession charges, police said.
Police on Wednesday kept an eye out for Piccolo, and spotted him around 6:40 p.m. at 35th Street and Astoria Boulevard, police said.
When officers approached, Piccolo started crying and admitted he had attacked Bournias, police said.
He was arrested without incident, police said.
Bournias said he's owned several restaurants in the city and that he's been mugged and robbed before. He said he's just grateful he survived once again.
He said he doesn't wish any ill upon his attacker. Instead, Bournias had a message: "Instead of knocking me on the floor, almost kill me, tell me 'I need the money,' I'd give it to you. Honest. Honest, I would have given it to you."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit the Crime Stoppers website or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
