QUEENS, NY - A harrowing incident unfolded at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Queens early Sunday morning, April 7th, 2024, where 68-year-old parishioner Irene Tahliambouris faced a brutal attack. The suspect has since been identified as 16-year-old Jayvaun Prince.
As she approached the church entrance around 8:20 a.m., a much younger assailant struck her with force, sending her tumbling down the steps. Security footage revealed the shocking sequence: the attacker stalked Irene Tahliambouris before violently assaulting her, then callously rifled through her pockets and fled the scene in her car, leaving her in pain on the ground.
The victim, a regular attendee of the church, was left hospitalized in critical condition following the assault.
Fortunately, her condition has since stabilized, but the trauma inflicted upon her has reverberated through the community.
Father Konstantinos Kalogridis, the church's pastor, expressed disbelief and horror at the incident, emphasizing Irene Tahliambouris's humility and dedication to her faith and family.
The attacker's identity came to light through police investigation.
Described as a young man between 18 and 25 years old, with a dark complexion and medium build, he was captured on video fleeing the scene wearing distinctive clothing—a red hoodie, black jacket, pants, face mask, and Jordans with red trim.
The NYPD's efforts to locate him intensified, especially as the local precinct increased patrols in the area.
However, the story took a startling turn when the alleged perpetrator, identified as Prince, attempted suicide while in police custody.
Prince was arrested for the mugging of Irene Tahliambouris, along with another robbery incident in Queens earlier in April.
Despite his suicide attempt, he was hospitalized with minor injuries and is expected to face charges including robbery and grand larceny.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz condemned Prince's alleged actions, emphasizing the severity of the charges against him and acknowledging the diligent work of law enforcement in apprehending him.
“The viciousness with which the defendant is accused of having committed the robbery at the church struck the city at its core,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement.
“As alleged, he chose to rob an elderly woman by first pushing her down the stairs and then proceeded to take her purse and leave her to suffer while he took off in her car. He will now have to answer for the serious charges levied against him by my Office.”
“Thank you to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny and the entire Detective Bureau for their relentless work.”
The community, shocked by the violence perpetrated against one of its own, awaits justice as the legal proceedings unfold.
In the wake of the assault, the NYPD's local 107th Precinct increased its presence around the church, particularly during the ongoing season of Orthodox Lent.
This heightened vigilance aimed to reassure parishioners and residents, demonstrating the department's commitment to ensuring safety in the area.
Meanwhile, Tahliambouris's recovery journey has been closely monitored by both her family and the community. Father Kalogridis, along with supportive nurses, has been a comforting presence by her side, offering prayers and encouragement for her full recovery.
“She’s a parishioner of our church who was coming to church to attend the service in the morning,” Kalogridis told The Post in a phone interview. “I was in the office during the service but when I saw the footage of what happened, it was horrible.”
“I can’t believe — right on the top of the steps of the church — to do this to an elderly woman,” Kalogridis told The Post in a phone interview. “I hope they find this guy and they go to jail.”
Tahliambouris's resilience and faith have served as a source of inspiration for those around her, reinforcing the strength of community bonds in times of adversity.
As the case progresses through the legal system, the focus remains on achieving justice for Tahliambouris and holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions.
Unfortunately, Tahliambouris remains in the hospital and is “fighting for her life” according to her GoFundMe.
As she approached the church entrance around 8:20 a.m., a much younger assailant struck her with force, sending her tumbling down the steps. Security footage revealed the shocking sequence: the attacker stalked Irene Tahliambouris before violently assaulting her, then callously rifled through her pockets and fled the scene in her car, leaving her in pain on the ground.
The victim, a regular attendee of the church, was left hospitalized in critical condition following the assault.
Fortunately, her condition has since stabilized, but the trauma inflicted upon her has reverberated through the community.
Father Konstantinos Kalogridis, the church's pastor, expressed disbelief and horror at the incident, emphasizing Irene Tahliambouris's humility and dedication to her faith and family.
The attacker's identity came to light through police investigation.
Described as a young man between 18 and 25 years old, with a dark complexion and medium build, he was captured on video fleeing the scene wearing distinctive clothing—a red hoodie, black jacket, pants, face mask, and Jordans with red trim.
The NYPD's efforts to locate him intensified, especially as the local precinct increased patrols in the area.
However, the story took a startling turn when the alleged perpetrator, identified as Prince, attempted suicide while in police custody.
Prince was arrested for the mugging of Irene Tahliambouris, along with another robbery incident in Queens earlier in April.
Despite his suicide attempt, he was hospitalized with minor injuries and is expected to face charges including robbery and grand larceny.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz condemned Prince's alleged actions, emphasizing the severity of the charges against him and acknowledging the diligent work of law enforcement in apprehending him.
“The viciousness with which the defendant is accused of having committed the robbery at the church struck the city at its core,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement.
“As alleged, he chose to rob an elderly woman by first pushing her down the stairs and then proceeded to take her purse and leave her to suffer while he took off in her car. He will now have to answer for the serious charges levied against him by my Office.”
“Thank you to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny and the entire Detective Bureau for their relentless work.”
The community, shocked by the violence perpetrated against one of its own, awaits justice as the legal proceedings unfold.
In the wake of the assault, the NYPD's local 107th Precinct increased its presence around the church, particularly during the ongoing season of Orthodox Lent.
This heightened vigilance aimed to reassure parishioners and residents, demonstrating the department's commitment to ensuring safety in the area.
Meanwhile, Tahliambouris's recovery journey has been closely monitored by both her family and the community. Father Kalogridis, along with supportive nurses, has been a comforting presence by her side, offering prayers and encouragement for her full recovery.
“She’s a parishioner of our church who was coming to church to attend the service in the morning,” Kalogridis told The Post in a phone interview. “I was in the office during the service but when I saw the footage of what happened, it was horrible.”
“I can’t believe — right on the top of the steps of the church — to do this to an elderly woman,” Kalogridis told The Post in a phone interview. “I hope they find this guy and they go to jail.”
Tahliambouris's resilience and faith have served as a source of inspiration for those around her, reinforcing the strength of community bonds in times of adversity.
As the case progresses through the legal system, the focus remains on achieving justice for Tahliambouris and holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions.
Unfortunately, Tahliambouris remains in the hospital and is “fighting for her life” according to her GoFundMe.
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Comments
2024-04-18T07:44-0400 | Comment by: Tim
I don't feel sorry for the little punk. Put him in prison and I'm sure his suicide can be successful. What a POS!