An FDNY firefighter whose daughter was chased into the street by a stranger and then struck with a car confronted the alleged attacker in a Queens courtroom Monday.
The New York Post reports that the father yelled, “I want justice” at the alleged suspect. The father, identified as Omar Wilks, also reportedly told the suspect, “Hey Kevin, that was my 14-year-old child you attacked!”
The suspect is Kevin Ramtahal, 23, and was in Queens Criminal Court Monday morning after police tracked him down in connection to the disturbing Dec. 6 incident. Ramtahal has been accused of chasing Wilk’s daughter, Amara, into traffic as she was walking to school. The suspect allegedly threatened the girl by saying, “I’m coming for you.”
Amara suffered injuries to her legs when she was hit by a car.
Her dad, a firefighter with Engine 294 in Queens, responded to the scene and was horrified to learn that his daughter was the victim.
“‘Daddy, am I going to die?’ That’s what my daughter asked me,” Wilks told Ramtahal in court. “Remember those words.”
The New York Post reports that Ramtahal stopped in tracks in court and faced Wilks. He allegedly stared at the father with wide eyes. Wilks was escorted out of the courtroom by two officers; who reportedly told him that they “understand.”
After the Dec. 6 incident, an anonymous Facebook tip led NYPD to Ramtahal’s home.
Ramtahal was in court for a status hearing is being held on $2,500 bail. He’s facing multiple charges, which include: endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment. But Wilks wants the charges to be upgraded, since new bail reform guidelines will be hitting New York City on January 1.
Wilks told the New York Post that, “There is no reason he should be on the street on January 1 after attacking a little girl.”
Later on, Wilks added, “I felt like leaping over the table and grabbing him up as a father, but out of respect for the court, I maintained discipline and made it clear to him that I am determined to get justice.”
