QUEENS — Police are hunting a man suspected of brutally raping and robbing young women in Forest Hills during a terrifying three-week spree.
The suspect, Ibrahima Ragis, 20, sexually assaulted two teenage girls and robbed a third woman at knifepoint near their homes between May 19 and June 3, the NYPD reported.
The horrifying incidents began on May 19, when a knife-wielding Ragis grabbed a 19-year-old woman entering her Forest Hills home, pulled her her into a walkway and sexually abused her about 3:30 a.m., police said. He stole the victim's money and cell phone before fleeing, cops added.
On May 28, the suspect approached a 17-year-old woman near her home, put his hand over her mouth and dragged into an alley before raping her at knifepoint about 3 a.m., police said. The victim was treated at a local hospital and released.
Then, on June 3, he confronted another woman, 22, as she entered her home, flashed a knife and stole items from the victim before fleeing with her property about 2:37 a.m. after being spotted by a witness, cops explained. The woman was uninjured, police noted.
Ragis, who was identified through forensic evidence, is described as standing 5-foot-5 and weighing 160 pounds, with black hair.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577.