Photo by Dean Moses
Police in the Bronx have arrested and charged a 34-year-old man after he allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl inside an apartment earlier this week.
According to police sources, José Ramos was charged on April 28 with second-degree rape and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
Law enforcement sources said the heinous attack occurred sometime between the evening of April 26 and the early morning of April 27 inside a building in the area of West 174th Street and University Avenue in Morris Heights.
Authorities said Ramos allegedly knocked on an apartment door, and the 12-year-old girl allowed him inside the dwelling. While Ramos’ relationship to the child is not exactly clear, sources familiar with the case report that they were acquaintances.
The pair were watching movies together when he allegedly made his attack and sexually assaulted the child, sources familiar with the case said.
Officers from the 46th Precinct were called to the location at about 3 a.m. on April 27. The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Police said Ramos had no prior arrests, and may have been smoking marijuana with the victim prior to going on the attack, according to law enforcement sources.
Through April 26, the 46th Precinct had reported 16 rape incidents year-to-date, up from 14 at the same point in 2025.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, help is available by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
