Editor’s Note – The Illegals Crime Report looks at crimes committed in the United States at the hands of those who shouldn’t be in the country.
Week of December 26 – January 1
Girl Chased Into Street, Hit By Car
New York City, NY
Kevin Ramtahal, 23, is accused of following a young girl and shouting, “I’m coming for you.” The 14-year-old victim had been walking near the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 110th Street in Queens when the suspect reportedly approached her. He had been wearing a hoodie pulled over his head. According to reports, the man chased the young girl, yelling that he was after her; she was so terrified she ran into the street where she was struck by a vehicle and suffered severe injuries to her legs.
The victim’s father, FDNY firefighter Omar Wilks, happened to be one of the responders and was horrified to discover his daughter was the victim. “’Daddy, am I going to die?’ That’s what my daughter asked me,” said Wilks.
On Dec. 16, Wilks attended a court hearing related to the case but was promptly removed after an outburst at the suspect. “Hey Kevin, that was my 14-year-old child you attacked!” he had yelled as Ramtahal was being led into Queens Criminal Court. Judge Jeffrey Gershuny ordered court officers to “escort that gentleman” out of the courtroom, but the officers whispered to the distraught father that they understood his anger and frustration.
On Dec. 23, Wilks went to the courthouse again, hoping to see Ramtahal at his next hearing, but the suspect did not show up; he had waived his court appearance. Assistant District Attorney Kevin Ramnarain said that prosecutors intended to put Ramtahal’s case before a grand jury, which means felony charges could be in the works. “I feel that it’s a step in the right direction,” Wilks told the New York Post, “but we still haven’t quite gotten there as it relates to getting justice. Not only is he a danger to my child, he’s a danger to all children out here. Justice has not been served until he is off the street.”
(Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
The young victim is recovering, but it will be a long road for her. “She’s devastated emotionally and she’s in enormous physical pain,” Wilks said. “It’s going to take a lot of time for her to get better. She has a lot of trauma.”
Ramtahal is not a U.S. citizen. He came to this country from Trinidad and Tobago. He was indicted Dec. 20 and faces 19 charges, which could result in up to seven years behind bars. However, Judge John Zoll said he would not officially charge Ramtahal until a psychiatric evaluation had been conducted. The suspect’s parents told prosecutors that he was schizophrenic and homeless. The mother said she is “afraid to have him in the house,” according to Ramnarain.
Originally, Ramtahal had been charged with misdemeanor offenses and was not being held in custody. Now that more serious charges have been filed, he is being held.
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Read more from Kelli Ballard.
