A 25-year-old Ecuadorian man has been arrested in connection with the “horrific” rape of a 13-year-old girl. According to the NYPD, members of the Queens community recognized him from police images, detained him possibly with a belt, and subdued him after a struggle.
“The community was holding our perp,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.
The suspect, Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi, waived his Miranda rights and admitted to police that he had a drug problem and had never done anything like this before, according to Kenny.
Inga-Landi also informed investigators that he found the large knife used to force the 13-year-old girl and her schoolmate into a secluded area of Kissena Park. The two teens managed to escape after the assault and reported the incident to their school.
“These victims gave crucial information that was needed to make this arrest,” Kenny said.
Dramatic footage shows the moment @NYPD officers pull an illegal from under a car and arrest him for allegedly threatening two kids with a machete before r*p*ng the 13-year-old girl.
Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi was hiding under a car after people from the neighborhood… pic.twitter.com/ewNi2b2tn0
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 19, 2024
Police credit the victim and her 13-year-old schoolmate, who was also forcibly taken, for providing a description of the suspect and his distinctive tattoo, which led to a quality sketch.
“Between the courageous work of those children, who are scarred for life, and the community, this person is off the street,” said Chief of Patrol John Chell.
Community members identified Inga-Landi after recognizing him from video released by police. They had noticed him frequenting a deli in Corona for about two weeks and decided to wait for him late Monday night. Around 1 a.m., a group of about six good Samaritans apprehended him and detained him for police.
Jeffrey Flores, one of the individuals who confronted Inga-Landi, put him in a headlock at one point. Flores mentioned that when Inga-Landi tried to flee, he used his friend’s belt to tie up Inga-Landi’s legs.
Inga-Landi was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment and then released into police custody. He is being processed by Special Victims detectives at the 112th Precinct.
He faces multiple charges, including rape, sex abuse, robbery, menacing, unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of a weapon.
“A violent criminal has been taken off our streets,” said Police Commissioner Edward Caban.
Police credited old-fashioned detective work, including canvassing the neighborhood, putting up posters, and mobilizing the community.
“The city said no,” Chell said. “Great community response and that’s what you want.”
Inga-Landi has no prior arrests in New York City but has one out-of-state arrest for entering the United States illegally through Eagle Pass, Texas, in June 2021. He also has three summonses and one domestic violence incident in the 107th Precinct, which did not require an arrest.
