Delivery Run Turns NIGHTMARE

FedEx Ground delivery truck parked on a street — Photo: Kilmer Media / Shutterstock

A masked attacker pistol-whipped and raped a 37-year-old delivery worker on Staten Island before fleeing, police said.

Story Snapshot

Police say a 37-year-old woman was hit with a gun and raped near Dongan Hills Avenue and Jefferson Street.
The victim was making a delivery and was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
The suspect ran off; New York City Police Department released a composite sketch as the search continues.
Reports placed the scene near the Berry Houses public housing complex.

What Police Say Happened Wednesday Evening

New York City Police Department officers responded around 6 p.m. Wednesday to reports of a sexual assault near Dongan Hills Avenue and Jefferson Street on Staten Island. Police said a masked man struck a 37-year-old woman in the face with a black and silver gun and then raped her while she was making a delivery. The victim was transported to a hospital and was listed in stable condition after treatment, according to on-scene reporting.

Police said the attacker fled after the assault, and no arrests had been made as of Friday. A witness told ABC7 that the woman had been delivering a package of hair products to her apartment when the attack occurred, placing the crime inside a residential delivery context. Outlets identified the location near the Berry Houses public housing complex, which helped anchor where the search began that night.

Active Search: Composite Sketch Released

The New York City Police Department released a composite sketch of the man sought in the case as detectives canvassed the area for tips and video. Reports described the suspect as wearing a hood and a mask during the attack, which complicates identification and raises the value of any camera footage from nearby buildings and streets. Police urged anyone with information to contact detectives as they work to match the sketch with leads from the neighborhood.

Some coverage framed the attacker as a stranger to the victim, based on law enforcement sources, while other local reporting focused on the delivery setting and did not confirm that detail. Authorities have not publicly named a suspect or released a full incident report. That leaves the “stranger” versus “known locally” question unresolved in open sources while the search and evidence review continue.

Why This Case Resonates Beyond One Block

This assault lands in a city where many delivery workers face real safety risks. A 2024 New York City study of food delivery gig workers found about 21 percent reported being assaulted while working, and nearly 22 percent reported injuries. Assault rates were higher for those using e-bikes or mopeds, showing how work conditions and routes can shape risk on the job. These patterns make safety planning and fast police action critical after attacks like this.

Public housing areas often carry heavier violent-crime burdens than their share of the city’s population. Past analyses have found that New York City Housing Authority developments experienced a disproportionate share of serious violence, including assaults and rapes, during some periods studied. That context helps explain the visible police presence and canvassing after the Staten Island attack, as detectives work to gather video, witness accounts, and physical evidence that could identify the suspect.

What Neighbors And Workers Need Now

Residents and delivery workers in the Dongan Hills area need clear guidance on safety steps while the suspect remains at large. Police typically advise well-lit hand-offs, verified drop locations, and quick calls to 911 if someone appears to be following a worker. Building managers can help by checking and sharing camera footage with detectives and by securing lobby, stairwell, and elevator access points. Small steps can matter while investigators chase stronger leads from the composite sketch.

A woman was attacked by a masked stranger while making a delivery in Staten Island. The suspect remains at large.

Police say the 37-year-old victim was struck with a firearm and sexually assaulted before the attacker fled. She was hospitalized and reported stable. NYPD has… pic.twitter.com/m0hrLNirFT

— GlobePulses (@GlobePulses) September 12, 2026

For many readers, this case taps a wider fear: everyday people doing their jobs can become targets, and the system feels slow to protect them. That fear crosses party lines. People want safe streets, faster case updates, working cameras, and police who close cases. They also want survivors treated with respect. Straight facts, timely alerts, and real follow-through are the basics of trust. Getting those basics right is how the city shows it still works for the public.