Elected officials from Queens expressed outrage at the brutal rape and beating of a 23-year-old Asian woman Sunday night and called for swift prosecution of the crime and greater police presence in the Downtown Flushing area.

According to reports, although heavily intoxicated, 28-year-old Carloz Salazar Cruz followed the woman, who was walking on 41st Road near Main Street in Downtown Flushing shortly before 9:30 p.m. He grabbed a pipe, struck her in the face, dragged her into an alley off 41st Road and repeatedly beat her, then raped her.

A passing Good Samaritan witnessed part of the attack and called 911. Police caught up with Cruz, who was heavily splashed with the victim’s blood, a short distance away.

The victim was rushed to New York Hospital Queens. Accounts in other media published yesterday, May 18, said the victim had been beaten so severely she was brain dead. Cruz has been charged with attempted murder, assault, sex abuse, kidnapping, and criminal possession of a weapon, police said. Reports indicated he had to be left in a cell at the 109th Police Precinct station house for 10 hours to sober up before being charged.

“I am deeply saddened, shocked and outraged by the brutal and heinous crime committed on 41st Road in Flushing last night,” City Councilmember Peter Koo stated on May 17. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family as she fights for her life.” 

Koo praised police of the 109th Precinct for their outstanding police work in quickly apprehending Cruz.

“It breaks my heart that a young woman with her entire life ahead of her is now on life support when she was horrifically raped and beaten last night,” Assemblymember Grace Meng said, also on May 17. “I want to thank the Good Samaritan who called 911 right away, which allowed the officers of the 109th Precinct to apprehend the perpetrator at the scene of the crime.”

Koo and Meng both called for District Attorney Richard Brown to quickly prosecute the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law. Both legislators added that the incident underscored the need for greater police presence in the area.

“I will be meeting with Deputy Inspector Brian Maguire to request that more beat officers be on foot patrol and there is an increase in police protection in Downtown Flushing. This crime has sent shock waves through our community and everything must be done to prevent violent crimes from occurring on our streets,” Koo said.

Meng concurred. “While I am grateful for the hard work that our police officers at the precinct put in day in and day out, this monstrous crime demonstrates the absolute necessity for more police presence in our community,” she declared. “Our community should be able to walk along the streets in the evenings without fearing for their life!”