GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Police are searching for a man who attacked and sexually assaulted a Lawrenceville woman.
It happened just before noon on July 11 in the Twin Branches subdivision off Braselton Highway.
The victim told police she was working outside her home when a man she didn’t know attacked her.
“She had a project. She was going to work on an old headboard out in that building. They had gone the day before and bought all the supplies, and then when she walked out there to look at the headboard he was in the building. At that point he went ahead and raped her,” said a friend of the victim.
The woman was bound and sexually assaulted during the attack, according to police. The man then ran from the scene.
The victim was able to free herself and run for help.
Police canvassed the neighborhood and interviewed potential witnesses, but have not been able to identify a suspect.
They described the man as a Hispanic male, medium complexion and stocky, weighing about 175 lbs. They believe he is in his mid-30s or early-40s. He was wearing a yellow-and-white striped short-sleeve polo shirt, blue jeans, black glasses and a red baseball cap.
Police are urging neighbors to be extra cautious and aware. They say it is a very unusual crime because of the time of day and the brazen approach taken by the suspect.
People who live nearby told Channel 2’s Wendy Corona they are on edge that something like this could happen in their neighborhood.
They put up signs warning of the unsolved crime and advertising a neighborhood watch meeting Wednesday night to talk about what happened.
Authorities are expected to release a sketch of the suspect in the next 48 hours.
Anyone with information is urged to call Gwinnett County police at 770-513-5300. You can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
WSBTV
