An 18-year-old, accused of attacking a mother of three in Queens, reportedly confessed to police that he was aware of his wrongdoing after being confronted with surveillance footage, as stated by prosecutors.
The suspect, Luis Emmanuel Valencia Ponce, allegedly admitted his culpability to detectives after they showed him video evidence of the assault on Lisette Ramales. The incident occurred at a bus stop in East Elmhurst on Monday morning. Assistant District Attorney Isabelle Dudek shared these details during Ponce’s arraignment at Queens Criminal Court on Thursday evening.
“To be honest, I don’t recall running towards her, but I do remember chasing her,” Ponce is said to have confessed to investigators.
Upon being questioned about the attack, Ponce allegedly told detectives, “Seeing the footage, knowing how it looked, I knew I was guilty.”
Ponce also reportedly admitted to police that he was attempting to leave the country. This admission came after he was intercepted by Port Authority officers at JFK Airport, just five hours following the attack.
The teenager was allegedly trying to board a flight to Peru without possessing a boarding pass or ticket.
âYou’re saying you’re guilty with what you did, right? Do you think thatâs the reason why you tried to leave from JFK, you were trying to flee from what you did?â a detective reportedly asked Ponce.
Ponce then allegedly replied, âYes, sir.â
The alleged knife-wielding teen remained reserved and briefly glanced at his father and defense attorney in the courtroom as Dudek recounted the details of how the attack unfolded.
Ponce was held without bail on an attempted murder charge at his arraignment. His father declined to comment.
Ramales, a 29-year-old mother of three was on her way to work when Ponce allegedly walked up behind her and stabbed her at a bus stop and stabbed her — leaving her with a punctured lung and four stab wounds that required several stitches.
âThe complainant was walking to a bus stop⦠on the way to cross the street⦠somebody came up behind her and repeatedly stabbed her in the back,” Dudek said.
âShe is very fearful after this incident, and she is fearful of the defendant,” the prosecutor maintained.
Ramales remained hospitalized on Thursday, telling The Post earlier from her hospital bed that Ponce “didn’t say anything,” after the random slashing.
Ponce’s defense attorney, Michelle Minkin, argued to Judge Maria Gonzalez that the teen, who has no arrest record, should be released to seek medical help.
âI believe he was not in his right state of mind,” Minkin told the courtroom. âMy client received medical psychiatric attention shortly following the allegations in this case.â
âI believe that he would benefit from treatment and other supportive services, and I’m asking for your honor to give him the opportunity to engage in those services⦠His father is here, he will ensure he meets his appointments.â
The judge, though, in deciding to remand Ponce into custody noted, “the negative factors outweigh the positive” in the case.
