Courtesy Crime Stoppers
Christian Giovani Landi, a 25-year-old migrant from Ecuador, was arrested early Tuesday morning in Corona, New York, following a week-long manhunt sparked by a brazen assault in Kissena Corridor Park.
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Authorities have apprehended a suspect in connection with the shocking sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in a Queens park.
The arrest early Tuesday morning follows a week-long manhunt that gripped the city after the brazen attack last Thursday. Police identified the suspect as Christian Giovani Landi, a 25 year old migrant from Ecuador who entered the U.S. through Eagle Pass, Texas, in June 2021. He was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. after vigilant members of the community recognized him from surveillance images released by the NYPD.
According to police sources, the suspect was located at a single-room-occupancy dwelling in Corona, just three miles from the scene of the assault at Kissena Corridor Park in Flushing. Upon spotting him, several individuals intervened, resulting in a physical altercation that left the suspect with minor injuries. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Authorities have described the apprehended individual as a “strong person of interest” in the case but have not yet filed formal charges.
The assault, which occurred in broad daylight, sent shockwaves through the community. Police recounted that the suspect approached the two 13-year-olds as they finished playing soccer, brandishing a large machete-style knife. He coerced them into a wooded area, where he allegedly tied their wrists with a shoelace and sexually assaulted the girl before stealing their cellphones and fleeing.
In response to the incident, the NYPD swiftly mobilized, deploying sketches based on descriptions provided by the victims, including a distinctive tattoo of a boar on the suspect’s chest. Surveillance footage captured the suspect on a bicycle, further aiding investigators in their search.
The arrest comes on the heels of a $10,000 reward offered by authorities for information leading to the suspect’s capture and conviction. Police credit the quick identification and apprehension to the cooperation of the community and the bravery of the victims in providing crucial details.
Authorities have indicated that further updates on charges and court proceedings will be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.
Courtesy NYPD
Identified with the help of surveillance images and community vigilance, the migrant man is a prime suspect in the alleged coercion, assault, and robbery of two 13-year-olds last Thursday.
