An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a violent early morning attack on a Queens mother of three, with authorities saying the arrest came after members of his own family recognized him in surveillance images and contacted police, as reported by The New York Post.

Luis Emmanuel Valencia Ponce, 18, was taken into custody Thursday and charged with attempted murder and assault following the incident in East Elmhurst, according to the NYPD.

In the shadows Chilling surveillance shows stranger slashing NYC mom on way to bus stop as NYPD hunts for creephttps://t.co/YvKQlA55xX

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Police said the attack occurred early Monday, just after 6:00 a.m., near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and 94th Street — only blocks from where the suspect lives.

Investigators allege the suspect was seen on surveillance video following 29-year-old Lisette Ramales as she made her way to a bus stop. Video later captured the suspect approaching her and carrying out the attack before leaving the area.

An unknown person stabbed a mother of three children four times in #Queens on her way to a bus stop

The police are searching for the suspect.@NYPDnews @NYPDPC #NYC #CrimeNYC pic.twitter.com/vqoCYRqC7C

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Police said a knife was recovered at the scene.

Sources told The Post that the suspect was identified after his family recognized him in images released by authorities. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the suspect lives in the same neighborhood where the incident took place.

A neighbor, Berelyne Chalas, described the suspect as quiet and reserved.

“He lives in the basement with his dad,” said Chalas, a 21-year-old medical student. “He’s very quiet. You know, like an emo kid. He’s always wearing a hoodie. He just minds his own business, very quiet, very reserved.”

“It’s really creepy.”

Ramales was transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center for treatment following the attack. Speaking afterward, she described the moments leading up to the incident.

“I was waiting for the light to turn to walk. [While] I was waiting, all of a sudden, the guy slashed me,” she said.

“I yelled, and he looked like he turned around to go. And then just because I yelled, he did it again.”

She also noted that the suspect did not speak during the encounter.

“That’s the weird part. He didn’t say anything,” Ramales said. “He didn’t take anything, my belongings — nothing.”

Ramales, who has children ages 3, 11, and 14, said she did not recognize the suspect when police later released surveillance images.

“Honestly, I’m scared to go back home,” she said. “If I do work, I’m probably just going to go a little later in the day when there’s sunlight.”

Police confirmed that the suspect lives just blocks away from the location of the attack. Authorities have not indicated any prior connection between the suspect and the victim.

The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement continues to review evidence and prepare the case for court proceedings.

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