Metro

Teen brute accused of shoving, robbing granny outside NYC church is linked to another car theft days earlier: prosecutors

He is just 16 and has already been arrested five times for violent robberies and assaults — including allegedly pushing a Queens granny down church steps, sending her to the hospital.

Teen brute Jayvaun Prince allegedly mugged another woman just days before he shoved 68-year-old regular churchgoer Irene Tahliambouris, leaving her with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, according to prosecutors.

Following his arrest Thursday, Prince was charged both for the April 7 attack on Tahliambouris and the April 4 robbery, in which he allegedly threatened a 50-year-old woman into handing over her wallet and keys and stole her car.

But it was far from his first time in cuffs.

Sources said Prince was arrested twice, in August and September, and charged with six robberies total that took place in Queens in August.

He was also arrested twice for misdemeanor assaults, in December 2023 and then again on Feb. 2, according to law enforcement sources.

He is also wanted in connection to the robbery of a delivery person on Feb. 4, the sources said Friday.

The teen’s latest arrest sparked outrage from Tahliambouris’ family and police officials, who wondered why he was out on the streets despite his lengthy rap sheet.

“Absolutely shocking that this heinous crime was committed by a 16-year-old!” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell wrote on X Friday.

“A teenager who has had multiple felony arrests, robberies of women and yet he is walking around the streets,” Chell wrote.

“Obviously he needs help! Irene represents all of our moms, grandmothers, and everything else. Why is this happening? This was avoidable! What part of the process broke down and allowed this to happen????”

In a statement to Fox News on Friday, Tahliambouris’ family blamed New York State laws for emboldening criminals.

He is just 16 and has already been arrested five times for violent robberies and assaults — including allegedly pushing a Queens granny down church steps, sending her to the hospital. Courtesy St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

“Criminals feel comfortable doing things to helpless people because the laws in our state do not hold them accountable,” said the statement.

“The recidivism rate of criminal felonies is high, yet the state refuses to change laws to remand them to jail or charge them to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We are seeing an increase in petty crimes that are no longer able to be prosecuted, and those people are going on to commit violent crimes, yet Albany and NYC refuse to make the necessary changes to the law to ensure these criminals are held accountable.”

Video of the vicious church attack, previously obtained by The Post, showed the suspect stalking Tahliambouris as she walked up to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Briarwood.

He then suddenly got in front of her and punted her down the steps while standing on the top landing, according to the footage.

Jayvaun Prince, 16, was locked up Thursday on robbery, assault, grand larceny and other raps in connection to the Sunday attack on regular churchgoer Irene Tahliambouris, 68. Obtained by NY Post

As she lay on the ground, the brute callously picked her pockets and stole her purse before bolting in her car, a 2006 Nissan Altima.

In the strikingly similar case days earlier, Prince allegedly cornered the victim inside an elevator at a building on 127th Avenue in Rochdale Village, telling her he had followed her from a bank, where she withdrew money, prosecutors said.

He demanded she fork over the cash and her keys, as he put his hand in his pocket and simulated a gun, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

Prince then allegedly made a beeline for the exit and took off in the victim’s Toyota Corolla, prosecutors said. 

He faces a number of charges in that case, including robbery, grand larceny and menacing, the DA’s office said.

Following his arrest Thursday, Prince was charged both for the April 7 attack on Tahliambouris and the April 4 robbery, in which he allegedly threatened a 50-year-old woman into handing over her wallet and keys and stole her car. Courtesy St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Authorities charged him in that case after he was taken into custody Thursday for Tahliambouris’ mugging, in which he faces robbery, assault, grand larceny and other raps.

“The viciousness with which the defendant is accused of having committed the robbery at the church struck the city at its core,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement. 

The teen’s open cases include the string of robberies from Queens in August – and his mugshot photo from that arrest helped link him to the violent church crime, police sources said.  

In the first incident, he allegedly robbed a 13-year-old girl on Aug. 8, and then on Aug. 17, approached a 35-year-old man getting out of his car and mugged him at knifepoint, according to the sources. 

His next stick-up victim was a 63-year-old woman – who he also approached at knifepoint that same day as she got out of her car, the sources said. 

Sources said Prince was arrested twice, in August and September, and charged with six robberies total that took place in Queens in August. NYPD

Then on Aug. 25, he allegedly punched a 46-year-old woman in the back and snatched her backpack as she entered the Parsons Avenue subway station, the sources said. 

Prince was also busted on September 14 and charged with stealing someone’s purse on Aug. 21, and with another knifepoint robbery from Aug. 25, in which he targeted someone who was sitting inside a car, according to the sources. 

Sources said the teen attempted suicide Friday by wrapping his sweatshirt around his neck at the NYPD’s 107th Precinct stationhouse. 

He was brought out on a stretcher and hospitalized, but was not seriously injured, the sources said.

It’s unclear when he will be arraigned in the two latest cases.

He was also arrested twice for misdemeanor assaults, in December 2023 and then again on Feb. 2, according to law enforcement sources. Brigitte Stelzer

By Friday afternoon, Tahliambouris remained in critical but stable condition, unable to stand or move on her own, the DA’s office said. 

“She is a loving 68-year-old grandmother that would always do anything she could to help anyone at all times,” her son, who identified himself as Freddy, posted on a GoFundMe page for his mother’s medical care, describing her as “Always happy and in good spirits.”

“We can only imagine the pain that she [experienced] being knocked off the stairs of the church hitting the back of her head on the concrete, while this vicious person with no consideration to life attacks her and [takes] all her belongings and car,” Freddy wrote. 

The Rev. Konstantinos Kalogridis, pastor of St. Demetrios, told The Post Friday that he visited Tahliambouris two days ago – and she is doing “much better.”

“I saw her in the hospital,” Kalogridis said in a phone interview.

The teen’s latest arrest sparked outrage from Tahliambouris’ family and police officials, who wondered why he was out on the streets despite his lengthy rap sheet. Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

“I blessed her and gave her communion. She was smiling. She’s a strong woman. She’s peaceful and you know, she’s doing her best and she has a good team of doctors taking care of her and the love of her family and the community. And I think she’s going in a good direction.”

“The whole time that I was with her, she didn’t stop smiling and looking so peaceful and happy,” he added.

“Considering what she went through, to see a woman to be in that peaceful, happy state was amazing for me.”

Kalogridis said he is grateful that the young attacker who allegedly targeted his parishioner is finally off the streets – but strongly urged the teen to “repent.” 

“It’s sad that he’s 16 years old,” Kalogridis said.

“We’re praying that he will realize his mistake, and that he will repent and realize the grievous sin [that] he did to this poor lady.”

“And I hope and pray that you know, his family will help him and then he will get professional help for his evil act.”