ICYMI: New York Teen’s Brutal Assault in Bodega Bathroom Leads to Trans Migrant’s Arrest

NEW YORK CITY, NY –

A terrifying incident unfolded in East Harlem this week when a 14-year-old boy from New York City stepped into a bodega bathroom and found himself face-to-face with danger.

Across from Thomas Jefferson Park, a place where kids often play, a routine stop turned into a life-altering ordeal. Authorities say the suspect, a transgender woman from Colombia, trailed the teen and carried out a vicious sexual assault, leaving the community reeling and police scrambling to respond.

Suspect Nabbed After Fleeing Scene

The boy escaped the bathroom and quickly sought help, waving down passersby who contacted police.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Nicol Suarez, didn’t get far.

Law enforcement apprehended her the next day near the crime scene. She now faces a first-degree rape charge tied to the Tuesday attack.

Sources say the boy’s fast thinking and the witnesses’ actions were key to her swift arrest.

A Wanted Individual with a Troubled Past

Suarez wasn’t just a local threat.

At the time of her arrest, she was already on the radar of authorities in New Jersey and Massachusetts, though details of those charges remain unclear.

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Federal immigration officials had also flagged her with a detainer, signaling their intent to take her into custody. This request asks local agencies to hold someone for ICE, but New York’s sanctuary city policies complicated matters, according to a law enforcement insider.

Courtroom Clash Over Bail

When Suarez faced a judge, prosecutors pushed for a steep $500,000 bail or a $1.5 million bond, reflecting the gravity of the crime. But Judge Elizabeth Shamahs, a recent Democratic appointee, slashed those amounts to $100,000 bail or $250,000 bond, per court records.

Suarez remains detained at Rikers Island as the case unfolds, but the decision has fueled debate over how such cases are handled.

Community Left Stunned

Residents near the bodega expressed deep distress.

A local deli owner, Azid Haime, who runs a shop kids frequent for snacks, couldn’t hide his disgust. He described feeling physically shaken and outraged, lamenting the devastating impact on the young victim.

Another neighbor, 24-year-old mother Lindsaey Gonzalez, called for deportation, emphasizing the boy’s likely lifelong trauma and her sympathy as a parent.

Sanctuary City Debate Reignited

The arrest has stirred up bigger questions about New York’s approach to migrant offenders.

One source argued the case exposes flaws in sanctuary city rules, suggesting federal officials could deport Suarez if local leaders cooperated. They pointed to the ICE detainer as proof she shouldn’t have been free to strike, a sentiment echoing broader calls to remove violent individuals from the city.

The boy’s encounter has left an indelible mark, and as Suarez awaits her next court date, East Harlem grapples with the fallout of a crime no one saw coming. Please keep the young victim and his family in your prayers.

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