Sunday afternoon on a northbound E train in Queens turned ugly for one teenager when, police say, two strangers decided his pricey sneakers were worth a stickup.
On May 3, 2026, at about 2:07 p.m., a 17-year-old male riding a northbound E train near the Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike station was approached by two unidentified individuals, according to police. The pair allegedly punched the teen, with one of them displaying a large knife, then took the victim’s sneakers, which were estimated to be worth about $1,200. Transit detectives later circulated images of the suspects as they continue to investigate the robbery.
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers unit posted a wanted notice on X on May 11 that included still frames of the suspects and a brief account of what happened. According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, tips can be sent via direct message to @NYPDTips or by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, and Crime Stoppers is offering up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
Where It Happened
The Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike stop sits at Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard, on the border of Kew Gardens and Forest Hills, and is served by the E and F trains on the Queens Boulevard Line. According to the MTA, the station is a regular transfer point for riders in central Queens. The area falls under the jurisdiction of Transit District 20 for transit investigations, per NYPD Transit District 20.
What Police Are Asking
Investigators are urging anyone who witnessed the May 3 robbery, or who may have recorded it on a phone or other device, to hold on to that footage and contact authorities rather than delete or overwrite it. As outlined by NYPD Crime Stoppers, tips can be submitted by phone, online or via direct message and may qualify for the department’s reward program.
A Pattern In Queens
Robberies involving knives and the theft of high-value sneakers have been reported across Queens in recent months, and detectives say they monitor patterns when similar incidents pop up more than once. Local reporting has detailed earlier cases where teens were targeted and expensive footwear was taken, with detectives in prior investigations releasing images and offering rewards while they probed related incidents, according to QNS…