FDNY firefighter and minister Omar Wilks wants answers and justice after a man tried to attack his 14-year-old daughter in Queens resulting in her being hit by a car and being seriously injured.
The incident occured on Dec. 6 when Wilks says his daughter Amara was walking to school on 110th Street and Jamaica Avenue when an adult male by the name of Kevin Ramtahal, 23, tried to attack her. Amara did now know Ramtahal and had never seen him before.
As she tried to walk away, Wilks said Ramtahal said to his daughter, “I’m coming after you” while his hand was in his pocket and began chasing her. Amara was then cornered by Ramtahal forcing her to run into oncoming traffic and she was hit by a car.
“She asked me, ‘Daddy, am I going to die?’ And I told her, ‘No, you’re going to make it,’” Wilks said.
The teen sustained serious injuries to her legs that could have killed her including bone fractures. She received surgery at Cohen Children’s Medical Center where she recieved multiple screws in her legs and a pipe to stabilize her fractures.
After she was injured, Ramtahal remained at large. Wilks started the District 20 Alliance to find his daughter’s attacker. After several leads, community members informed police of Ramtahal’s location and he was detained by police.
“My daughter is emotionally traumatized from this attack that happened to her,” Wilks said. “She is in enormous physical pain from
injuries she sustained. She will never be able to walk the same as a result of this.”
Ramtahal was charged with reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment, however, Wilks wants charges upgraded to violent felony charges. If the charges are not upgraded, Ramtahal could be released by Jan. 1, 2020. His next court date is Dec. 23.
During a court appearance this week, Wilks confronted Ramtahal during an outburst in the courtroom before Wilks was escorted out by court officers. He’s now calling on incoming Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to upgrade charges against his daughter’s attacker. Wilks says his daughter’s race is playing a role in how her case is being treated.
“I’m extremely angry because I feel that the system is broken, especially when it comes to Black children,” Wilks said. “If it was a white girl in the same situation, the perpetrator would have received the most serious charges.”
In a statement to the AmNews, Katz said she was not able ot comment on active cases and wants to hear all of the facts.
“This is a terrible tragedy that has greatly changed this young woman’s life,” she said. “At this time, I will continue my policy of not commenting on active cases until I am sworn in as the District Attorney. However, I will say that I am dedicated to finding justice for victims and keeping our communities safe. As with all cases, my office will be guided by the facts.”
Wilks is planning a rally for Dec. 21 at the location where his daughter was attacked on 110th Street and Jamaica Avenue to continue his call for the charges against Ramtahal to be upgraded.