BROOKLYN, NY - Authorities have announced that a man was arrested and charged in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl inside a NYCHA apartment building in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The alleged incident happened in the lobby of the Cooper Park Houses around 5:45 p.m., on Thursday, November 6, ABC7 reported. Police say that 27-year-old Eric McMichael entered the lobby in one of the buildings and grabbed the 12-year-old as she walked in, pushed her to the ground on a nearby stairwell, and then raped her before running away.
The young girl was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. She was reported to be in stable condition, according to CBS News. McMichael, who lives in a men's shelter, was arrested and charged on Friday, November 7. The victim's mother spoke with ABC7 on Friday: "I just hope he gets caught. I just hope he just turns himself in... my daughter is only 12," she said.
The mother said she is horrified that this could happen to her happy child. "She dances, she cares about her friends a lot, [she gets] good grades in school," her mom said. The young girl said that she did not know McMichael.
Residents of the Cooper Park Houses and neighbors said they're sickened and scared for the young rape victim's physical and emotional health. "It should never have happened," Terrence Scott said before McMichael was arrested. "A person like that, you need to turn yourself in. You're sick, you're an animal. You need to turn yourself in."
McMichael has been charged with two counts of rape and sexual abuse, along with burglary and child endangerment, NBC4 reported. McMichael has four prior convictions, according to police, including a rape in 2019. He was also convicted of burglary that same year, plus grand larceny and robbery in 2023.
The alleged incident happened in the lobby of the Cooper Park Houses around 5:45 p.m., on Thursday, November 6, ABC7 reported. Police say that 27-year-old Eric McMichael entered the lobby in one of the buildings and grabbed the 12-year-old as she walked in, pushed her to the ground on a nearby stairwell, and then raped her before running away.
The young girl was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. She was reported to be in stable condition, according to CBS News. McMichael, who lives in a men's shelter, was arrested and charged on Friday, November 7. The victim's mother spoke with ABC7 on Friday: "I just hope he gets caught. I just hope he just turns himself in... my daughter is only 12," she said.
The mother said she is horrified that this could happen to her happy child. "She dances, she cares about her friends a lot, [she gets] good grades in school," her mom said. The young girl said that she did not know McMichael.
Residents of the Cooper Park Houses and neighbors said they're sickened and scared for the young rape victim's physical and emotional health. "It should never have happened," Terrence Scott said before McMichael was arrested. "A person like that, you need to turn yourself in. You're sick, you're an animal. You need to turn yourself in."
McMichael has been charged with two counts of rape and sexual abuse, along with burglary and child endangerment, NBC4 reported. McMichael has four prior convictions, according to police, including a rape in 2019. He was also convicted of burglary that same year, plus grand larceny and robbery in 2023.
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Comments
2025-11-10T17:54-0500 | Comment by: arthur
Poor kid, just 12, very little chance of her ever getting over something like that. Really hope this guy gets what's coming to him for this, in one way or another.
2025-11-10T17:56-0500 | Comment by: KENT
What was he doing on the street with that record? Insanity prevails in our courts!!!!!
2025-11-10T18:03-0500 | Comment by: Raconteur
Another fine product of the NYC judicial system. I wonder if he is already out on cashless bail.
2025-11-11T01:28-0500 | Comment by: Josh
4 prior convictions since 2019 and one of them is for rape. Is this guy in jail? Nope he’s out on the streets terrorizing NYC.