Daily Mail reported that David Davon-Bonilla, a 24-year-old Nicaraguan migrant, allegedly raped a 46-year-old woman near the Coney Island boardwalk on Surf Avenue and 16th Street around 9 p.m. Sunday.
The victim was accompanied by her boyfriend, who attempted to defend her but was reportedly attacked by another migrant, Leovando Moreno, a 37-year-old Mexican national. The incident has led to the arrest of both men, who have previous criminal records and entered the U.S. under unclear circumstances.
Davon-Bonilla, who entered the U.S. as an asylum seeker in December 2022, is accused of holding a knife to the woman's throat during the assault.
Her boyfriend, a 34-year-old man, was allegedly struck by Moreno with a pipe as he tried to intervene. The couple had reportedly settled under the boardwalk after arriving from out of state.
The attack occurred near a hotel functioning as a migrant shelter, close to the Brooklyn Cyclones Ballpark and Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.
Davon-Bonilla is now facing multiple charges, including first-degree rape, second-degree assault, first-degree sexual abuse, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon. Moreno was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon for his alleged role in the attack.
After the incident, the victim was taken to Coney Island Hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Her boyfriend, however, refused medical attention. The incident has sparked concern due to the proximity of the crime scene to a location frequented by the public.
Davon-Bonilla's history of violent crimes is also drawing attention. Four months after entering the U.S., he allegedly raped another woman at a La Quinta Hotel on Third Avenue in Park Slope, which had been repurposed as a migrant shelter. He spent approximately a year in prison after a plea deal and was released in June.
Law enforcement sources revealed that the April 2023 assault at the La Quinta Hotel involved both rape and sodomy. The woman in that case was a 34-year-old who had also been assaulted in Brooklyn. This prior incident raises concerns about the handling of Davon-Bonilla's case and his release from prison.
Following the attack near Coney Island, both suspects were arrested close to the crime scene.
Their status as migrants was confirmed by sources speaking to the New York Post. Davon-Bonilla had illegally entered the U.S. via Texas, though details of Moreno's entry into the country remain unclear.
The NYPD is currently investigating the incident, and more details are expected to surface as the case progresses in court. The violent nature of the attack, combined with the suspects' criminal backgrounds, has prompted discussions about the broader implications of the U.S. immigration system.
The alleged rape and assault near the Coney Island boardwalk involving David Davon-Bonilla and Leovando Moreno have highlighted significant concerns regarding public safety and the broader implications of the U.S. immigration system. The suspects' criminal histories and their illegal entry into the country underscore the complexities of addressing crime in the context of migration. As the case unfolds, it will likely influence discussions on balancing immigration policies with the need to protect communities.
