Arraignment Thursday for man charged with killing 92-year-old woman in Richmond Hill

By David Brand

The man accused of raping and killing a 92-year-old woman last month will appear in Queens Supreme Court for arraignment Thursday morning.

Reeaz Khan allegedly attacked the victim, Maria Fuertes, near her home in Richmond Hill. He is charged with second-degree murder and will appear before Justice Kenneth Holder.

“The defendant is accused of pouncing on the 92-year-old woman from behind, throwing her to the ground and then sexually assaulting her before he ran from the scene,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.

“The victim was discovered hours later barely conscious, incoherent and naked from the waist down,” Katz said. “The defendant has been apprehended and will be prosecuted for his alleged heinous actions.”

The graphic killing has generated signifcant attention because Khan is an undocumented immigrant. His alleged role in the case has been used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and officials in the federal government to assail New York’s so-called “sanctuary city” policies, which prevent the NYPD from holding detainees extra days for ICE agents to pick up on “detainer” requests or from honoring ICE subpoenas.