Seven months on from a troubling incident in University Park, LAPD detectives continue their search for a male suspect involved in the sexual assault of a shopper and the physical assault of an elderly woman near the USC campus. According to NBC Los Angeles, the attacks occurred inside a Ralph’s grocery store on Vermont Avenue on August 25, 2024. The suspect allegedly followed a 32-year-old woman around the store before sexually assaulting her from behind.
Reportedly, after the initial assault, the man violently struck an elderly woman in the chest as he was exiting the store. A video released by the LAPD shows the suspect navigating the grocery aisles. This video was shared in hopes of garnering assistance from the public in apprehending the individual. "The residents of Los Angeles, our friends and family members, should be free from this behavior," said Detective Robert Smey, a Southwest Division Sexual Assault Investigator, in a statement obtained by LAPD Online.
The suspect is described as being around 30 years old with black hair, with a height of approximately 5 feet 11 inches and weighing about 230 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing thick glasses and a burgundy windbreaker embellished with a “Wake & Bake” logo on the back. In the aftermath of the assault, he left the scene in a two-door white sedan featuring a black hood and a spoiler on the trunk, as highlighted in CBS News Los Angeles.
Authorities believe that this individual may have assaulted other women before this incident. Due to the nature of his behavior, detectives are releasing the suspect’s photos, urging individuals who may have encountered him, or possess any relevant information to come forward. "I encourage anyone with information about the suspect’s identification to come forward," Detective Smey told NBC Los Angeles. The LAPD has made contact information available for anyone wanting to share information anonymously or directly, through their Sexual Assault Detectives at 323-290-2976, the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or through the “P-3 Tips” mobile application.
