East Point Police have arrested a man in connection with a sexual assault from February 2024, a case that remained unsolved for more than a year. On Thursday, the police department announced the arrest of Elton Taylor, linked to an attack that left a woman severely injured and fighting for her life. FOX 5 Atlanta reported the incident as a random, stranger-on-stranger crime, with the victim being brutally assaulted by Taylor, who was only passing through the city at the time.
Officials have highlighted the gravity of this attack, despite an overall 30% reduction in crime within East Point. The case has prompted intense scrutiny and a thorough investigation by the local authorities. "February 2024 saw one of the most shocking stranger-on-stranger sexual assault cases in our city,” the department said, in a statement acquired by Atlanta News First. They expressed that a key lead helped to pinpoint Taylor as the assailant. Furthermore, East Point Police Chief Shawn Buchanan described the crime "as one of the most horrific incidents he has encountered in his 26 years of service."
According to police records, Taylor is currently being held at Fulton County Jail, awaiting trial. Details regarding the trial date have not been released thus far. Police say the victim survived the ordeal and is continuing with her recovery. Notably, the department made a rare decision to release a photo of the suspect, citing public safety concerns should Taylor be released from custody in the future.
