Authorities asked the public Monday for help in identifying and locating a man who robbed, beat and sexually assaulted a woman over the weekend at her University City apartment, leaving her hospitalized.
The victim, who is in her 20s, had just been dropped off by a friend following a beach-area cookout and was walking through a parking structure toward her residence in the 3900 block of Nobel Drive when the assailant began following her about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to San Diego police.
As the woman unlocked her front door, the man knocked her to the ground, pulled a pistol and told her to give him money. After the victim complied, the thief began to choke her and pushed her into her apartment. He then battered and sexually assaulted her before fleeing, Lt. Paul Phillips said.
The woman suffered facial fractures and other injuries and remained in a trauma center Monday afternoon.
She described the assailant as a roughly 5-foot-10-inch, 180-pound black man in his 20s or early 30s with short hair and a close-cropped beard. He was carrying a black backpack and wearing gray shorts with red stripes down the sides, a gray hooded sweat shirt and black sneakers.
Capturing the assailant is a high priority for police, the lieutenant said.
"This is a very violent individual," he told reporters.
The man was brazen enough to stalk the victim through well-lit areas before attacking her, Phillips noted.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
