A 13-year-old girl was reportedly groped on a Q48 MTA bus in Queens last Friday at approximately 4:18 p.m., while the bus was traveling near Parsons Boulevard and Union Turnpike. Police said the suspect, described in a wanted bulletin as an unidentified male, exited the bus at that intersection and fled on foot. Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact authorities.
According to a Facebook post by NYPD Crimestoppers, anyone with information is urged to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit tips online. The bulletin also lists a Spanish-language tip line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) and notes that tips may be filed at NYPD Crime Stoppers. Investigators are asking people who were on the Q48 around the time of the assault to review any phone videos they might have taken, and for nearby residents or businesses to check door-cam or security footage that could help identify the suspect.
How police classify the crime
Under New York law, this type of incident is typically classified as forcible touching, defined in the statute as squeezing, grabbing, or pinching intimate parts without consent. It is charged as a Class A misdemeanor and carries a potential penalty of up to one year in jail upon conviction. The law specifically applies to unwanted sexual contact on buses and other transit vehicles.
Buses and previous local cases
Queens transit riders, unfortunately, have seen cases like this before. Local outlet QNS reported on a December 2024 arrest tied to alleged groping on a Q43 bus, and last year a forcible-touching spree in Astoria made headlines when the NYPD asked the public for help identifying a suspect in multiple incidents.
How to help and stay safe
If you were riding the Q48 last Friday around 4:18 p.m. and saw anything that might be relevant, investigators want to hear from you. You can call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at NYPD Crimestoppers. Spanish speakers can call the dedicated line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). If an assault is happening in the moment or someone is in immediate danger, police say to call 911 right away.
Tips can be submitted anonymously, and the bulletin notes that information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a reward. Anyone with photos, video or other details tied to the Q48 incident is urged to share them through the channels above so detectives can follow up.
