QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) — An 8-year-old boy was injured when a man armed with a hammer followed a woman to a Queens school on Tuesday morning, according to the NYPD.
Police received a 911 call about a disorderly man following a 19-year-old woman at around 10:50 a.m. The woman then fled to the Jewish Institute of Queens on Woodhaven Boulevard in Elmhurst to seek safety, according to the NYPD
The school security guard intervened, and the boy was knocked into fence while the guard was grappling with the suspect, officials said.
The boy suffered a laceration to the head and was taken to the hospital for treatment, cops said.
Officers took the 42-year-old man into custody, and the charges were pending, police said. Authorities found a hammer on the suspect.
“The NYPD is thoroughly investigating all aspects of the incident, including the possibility of a bias motive, to ensure nothing is overlooked. I am praying for the injured child, the college-aged woman who sought refuge, and everyone impacted by this frightening incident. I am also grateful to the institute’s security personnel and the officers of the 112 Precinct for their swift actions in bringing this dangerous situation to an end,” Council member Phil Wong said in a statement.
The investigation is ongoing.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Mira Wassef is an award-winning reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined the PIX11 News digital team in 2022. See more of her work here.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.