Detectives have nabbed a young man suspected of violently raping a 27-year-old woman inside her Kips Bay apartment on New Year’s Eve, police announced Saturday afternoon.
Police said the perpetrator — 23-year-old Elijah Kelly — lives on East 30th Street, just down the block from where he allegedly attacked the victim inside her residence in the area of East 30th Street and 3rd Avenue at about 11:45 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2020.
Law enforcement sources said officers from the 13th Precinct, stationed in their patrol car parked near the location on Jan. 2, spotted Kelly jaywalking while wearing a yellow coat, which they recognized from a security camera image taken from the crime scene on Dec. 31 that had been disseminated on NYPD wanted flyers.
Kelly allegedly knocked on the victim’s door on the morning of Dec. 31 and said he was there to deliver a package, police reported. Once she opened the door, the perpetrator then forced his way inside the woman’s apartment.
Cops said he allegedly choked the woman until she passed out, then raped her just as she regained consciousness.
Following the assault, authorities noted, the suspect forced the woman to hand over her credit and debit cards, as well as the PIN to her bank card. He then fled the scene in an unknown direction.
The incident was reported to the 13th Precinct. The victim was treated and released at a nearby hospital.
On Jan. 1, the NYPD released video footage and photos of the suspect.
After being picked up for jaywalking on Saturday, police brought Kelly in for questioning. He was formally charged at 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 2 with rape, robbery, felony assault, strangulation, burglary, grand larceny, criminal sex act, sexual abuse, misdemeanor assault and trespassing.
