This article mentions sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — The Ecuadorian migrant accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in New York last week is expected to appear in court Wednesday.
Christian Inga, 25, is charged with rape, sex abuse, robbery, kidnapping, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and unlawful imprisonment, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
The arrest was made possible after the NYPD released sketches of photos of the suspect and asked the community for their help identifying him. The NYPD says they immediately began receiving tips with the suspect’s first and last name and Facebook account.
A group of people who knew what bodega Inga frequented decided to get together and waited there for him. When he showed up, the group reportedly overpowered and held him down as he fought back until police arrived on the scene.
“We all just, basically, retaliated for the 13-year-old little girl, because it’s not right what he did to her,” one of the good Samaritans told NewsNation affiliate PIX11.
“It was very disgusting, so we had to act accordingly,” said another member of the group.
“Point blank him raping somebody, he shouldn’t be doing that you know? So we found the guy and we did what we had to do,” another bystander added.
Authorities say Inga came to the U.S. from Ecuador illegally in 2021 through Eagle Pass, Texas, with a 3-year-old child. Once he crossed over, he was arrested, fingerprinted, his DNA was taken and then was released awaiting his court date, a common procedure for most migrants encountered at the border.
After being released, he made his way north to New York. He didn’t previously have a criminal record but has had a few run-ins with the NYPD over the years. The three encounters with the police ended in summons and a domestic violence accusation also did not lead to an arrest.
Inga will appear in front of a judge for the first time and is expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. Afterwards, a future court date will be set and Inga will likely be remanded to custody.