On May 2, 2025, a group of teenagers violently assaulted two girls, aged 13 and 16, in Kissena Park, Queens, New York City, in a two-hour ordeal that left the victims battered and sparked widespread outrage.
The attackers, who beat the girls with a baseball bat, shaved part of the 16-year-old’s head, and stole valuables, face charges including felony robbery and gang assault, with the New York Police Department (NYPD) arresting five suspects. The incident, captured in disturbing social media videos, has reignited safety concerns about the park, following a 2024 rape case in the same area.
The victims, both of Chinese descent, were playing basketball in Flushing’s Kissena Park around 6 p.m. when a group of older teens—four 17-year-olds and one 16—year—old—confronted them, per NYPD reports.
The assailants dragged the girls to a wooded trail, where they beat them with a baseball bat, causing severe bruising and swelling. One attacker allegedly used a portable hair clipper to shave part of the 16-year-old’s head, and the group stole the 13-year-old’s $558 limited-edition Air Jordan 4 White Oreos and the older girl’s cellphone.
Social media footage, posted on Instagram, shows the 13-year-old curled up, enduring repeated bat strikes, with one attacker removing her shoes. The 16-year-old reportedly lost consciousness during the attack, according to The New York Post..
Investigation and Victim Support
The NYPD’s Queens Special Victims Squad continues investigating, analysing video evidence and witness statements. The victims, treated at a hospital for bruises and head injuries, are recovering, with photos shared with World Journal showing the 16-year-old’s shaved scalp and bruises, per DNyuz. The families have called for a deeper probe, questioning the robbery classification given the assault’s brutality.
District Attorney Melinda Katz, while not directly involved in this case, has prioritized violent crime prosecutions in Queens, as seen in her 2024 Kissena Park rape indictment, signaling robust legal action, per Queens DA. The NYPD encourages tips via its Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Kissena Park has faced recurring violence, including the 2024 rape and a 2017 double sexual assault, per NBC New York. The 2024 case saw Inga-Landi arrested after community members recognized him from NYPD posters, leading to charges of rape, kidnapping, and predatory sexual assault, per Queens DA and Gothamist. These incidents have fueled demands for enhanced park security, with residents citing inadequate lighting and patrols in wooded areas.
The NYPD’s addition of cameras, though unspecified in location, aims to deter future crimes, per CBS New York.
As the NYPD and prosecutors pursue justice, the Kissena Park assault underscores the need for improved park safety and community vigilance. The victims’ families seek accountability beyond robbery charges, while residents push for lasting reforms.
