OZONE PARK, Queens, N.Y. — A quiet home invasion in Queens turned violent early Wednesday morning when an armed trio allegedly forced their way into a residence and attacked three people before escaping with thousands of dollars’ worth of Naruto trading cards.
The incident happened around 4:10 a.m. Wednesday near 101st Street and 101st Avenue in Ozone Park, according to police.
Investigators said the unidentified suspects entered the home through a balcony door and quickly began taking the highly sought-after Japanese manga cards.
What started as a burglary escalated when one of the people inside tried to intervene.
Man Attacked While Trying to Stop Suspects
According to police and law enforcement sources, a 30-year-old man attempted to stop the suspects as they grabbed the Naruto cards.
One of the intruders allegedly responded by striking the man in the face with a weapon.
The suspects also allegedly confronted two women inside the home, ages 60 and 33, throwing both of them to the ground during the robbery.
The older woman was also allegedly robbed of her cellphone.
The violence left the three victims facing an extremely frightening situation as the suspects continued gathering the valuable collectibles before preparing to leave.
Suspect Fires Gun Before Fleeing
The situation became even more dangerous as the suspects headed toward the exit. According to authorities, one of the suspects displayed a gun and fired a single round toward the victims.
Despite the gunfire, no one was struck.
The suspects then fled the home, taking approximately 60 Naruto cards valued at around $12,000, according to law enforcement sources.
The stolen cards appear to have been the primary target of the unusual robbery, adding a surprising element to what police described as a violent home invasion.
Victim Taken to Hospital After Attack
The 30-year-old man who was allegedly struck during the confrontation was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for treatment.
Police said his injuries were considered minor.
The two women were also subjected to the violent confrontation, with both allegedly being thrown to the ground as the suspects moved through the residence.
The victims were left dealing not only with the loss of valuable collectibles and a cellphone, but also with the trauma of having armed intruders enter their home in the middle of the night.
No Arrests Reported in Queens Case
As of Thursday, no arrests had been made in connection with the home invasion.
The suspects remain unidentified, and authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the break-in, assault, theft and gunfire.
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Police are expected to examine available evidence as they work to determine who was behind the robbery and where the stolen Naruto cards may have gone.
The case highlights how valuable collectibles can become targets for criminals, particularly when individual cards or collections can command significant prices among collectors.
For the three victims, however, the value of the stolen cards was only part of the ordeal. The alleged attack, physical confrontation and gunfire transformed an early-morning burglary into a potentially deadly encounter.
Anyone with information that could help investigators identify the suspects may be asked to contact the NYPD.
What do you think about this bizarre and violent Naruto card robbery? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you think investigators should focus on next.
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