A 37-year-old woman was hospitalized in stable condition after she was attacked while delivering a package at the Berry Houses.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Authorities are searching for a suspect after a 37-year-old woman making a delivery was struck in the face with a firearm and sexually assaulted at a Staten Island public housing development Wednesday evening.
The attack happened around 6 p.m. near Dongan Hills Avenue and Jefferson Street at the New York City Housing Authority’s Berry Houses. The woman was taken to a hospital in stable condition. No arrests had been announced as of Saturday, and authorities had not publicly released the identity of a suspect.
The victim had gone to the development to deliver a package of hair products to resident Niesha Sosa, according to an account Sosa gave to ABC7 New York. Sosa said she was heading down in the elevator when she heard a noise in the hallway near her apartment.
Sosa said the timing of the attack left her shaken because she had been close to the area moments earlier. She said she believed she could have encountered the attacker herself if the timing of her elevator trip had been different. Her account offered a limited glimpse into the moments surrounding the assault, while many details of the investigation remained undisclosed.
Authorities have not released information about what may have led to the attack, whether the victim and attacker had any prior contact or whether investigators have obtained surveillance footage. No public description of the suspect was included in the initial report. The circumstances surrounding the firearm also remained under investigation.
The attack has renewed attention on the safety of people who enter residential buildings for work. Delivery workers can spend parts of their shifts moving through hallways, elevators and other common areas while carrying food, packages or other goods to residents. Safety concerns involving deliveries at some public housing developments on Staten Island have surfaced before, and some companies have previously adjusted procedures at certain properties.
At Berry Houses, the assault also comes shortly after federal money was announced for additional security improvements. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis announced Aug. 18 that $1 million in fiscal 2026 federal funding would support closed-circuit television upgrades at the development. The planned work includes cameras in building lobbies, on exteriors and inside elevators.
The funding also may be used to replace aging security equipment, address older infrastructure and make electrical improvements needed for the camera system. New York City Housing Authority officials have said upgraded cameras can give property managers and law enforcement an additional tool when investigating incidents and can help strengthen security for residents.
The camera funding was announced before Wednesday’s assault, and there was no indication that the planned upgrades had been completed when the woman was attacked. Authorities also had not said whether any existing camera system captured evidence connected to the case.
The investigation remained active Saturday. The woman’s name has not been released, and authorities had announced no arrest or additional details about the suspect.
Author note: Last updated September 12, 2026.