San Diego police are looking for the public's help after a woman was followed home and violently beaten and sexually assaulted in University City.
The attack happened in the Venetian condo complex on Nobel Drive at approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday, San Diego Police (SDPD) officers said. The location is east of Interstate 5 and west of Regents Road in what police say is a historically safe neighborhood.
The victim had just come home from a barbecue when she noticed she was being followed by a man, SDPD Lt. Paul Phillips said. At the time, she was walking through a parking structure.
The man followed the woman to her apartment, police said.
As she unlocked the door to her apartment, the woman told police the man knocked her to the ground.
"It was very violent, he initially pulled a gun on her after he knocked her to the ground and asked her for her money. She complied with his request, but he didn’t end there," SDPD Lt. Paul Phillips said.
The victim followed his instructions, but was choked by the man and forced into her apartment where she was sexually assaulted, Phillips said.
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The victim suffered facial fractures and is recovering in the hospital.
Phillips said the victim did nothing to bring this upon herself.
"What I wanna tell you is, this person, she was doing something thousands of people do every day. She left a barbecue, there was no alcohol involved and she's walking to her apartment in a well-lit area," he said. "She's going a direct route and she did nothing to bring this upon herself."
Police are now looking for the public's help in finding the suspect, described as a black man, 25 to 30 years old, 5-feet 9-inches to 5-feet 11-inches tall and 180 pounds. He has a medium or athletic build, according to police, and wears his hair short. He also had a short, black beard, police said.
At the time of the attack, the man was wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt with gray shorts that had red stripes on the sides. He was wearing black sneakers and carrying a black backpack, police said.
Anyone with information about the incident can call San Diego Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531- 2210. There is also a tip line at (888) 580-8477 for those who wish to remain anonymous.
