What crazed homeless man told cops when asked why he punched girl, nine, in ... trends now
The crazed homeless man who punched a nine-year-old girl in the face said he did it because he was 'thirsty.'
Jean Carlos Zarzuela, 30, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly punched an unidentified girl inside New York City's Grand Central Terminal around 11.49am, police said.
Zarzuela told prosecutors on Monday during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court: 'I hit the girl because I was thirsty. Maybe I hit her in the face by accident.'
A repeat offender who was recently released for a similar crime, then fled the scene and was later found by police at the Lexington Avenue/125th Street station.
Zarzuela was charged with aggravated assault of a victim under 11, second-degree assault, third-degree assault and attempted assault.
He is being held on $100,000 bail and must submit to a psychiatric evaluation.
Jean Carlos Zarzuela, 30, allegedly punched a nine-year-old girl in the face on Saturday morning at Grand Central Station
During his arraignment on Monday in Manhattan Criminal Court, Zarzuela told prosecutors: 'I hit the girl because I was thirsty. Maybe I hit her in the face by accident'. (pictured: the suspect captured on surveillance cameras in the station)
During the violent attack, Zarzuela allegedly approached the girl as she stood near her mother before he hit her in the face without warning, according to the MTA Police Department.
She suffered pain and dizziness after the attack and was taken to NYU Langone-Tisch Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Surveillance footage caught Zarzuela near a Shake Shack in the food court, wandering in the station, and running out onto the street after the attack.
He was arrested by NYPD Transit Bureau officers around 10.20pm and told police that he lived at a homeless shelter nearby.
Zarzuela was seen in photos being escorted in handcuffs by MTA Police Detectives with multiple stains on his gray crewneck sweatshirt.
He donned black pants and had a blank look on his face as the officers walked him out of Grand Central Terminal.
This was not Zarzuela's first run-in with the law, as sources close to the investigation told amNew York Metro that he was arrested eight other times.
On April 4, Zarzuela assaulted a 54-year-old woman at the Grand
