Naked stranger tries to sexually assault Carnegie Mellon University student in off-campus house, police say
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Carnegie Mellon University student was attacked by a naked stranger in her off-campus house on Tuesday night, police said.
The student called police around 10 p.m. Tuesday to report a burglary and attempted sexual assault at an off-campus residence on Fifth Avenue near South Aiken and Bellefont Streets in Shadyside.
The victim told Pittsburgh police, who are handling the investigation, that she had come home around 6 p.m., and at 10 p.m., she thought she heard someone come into her apartment.
According to a safety alert from university police, the student was lying in bed when she saw a naked man she didn't know standing in her room, armed with a small knife. He told her not to say anything and that he wouldn't hurt her, investigators said.
The victim was able to fight off her attacker and run into the bathroom, police said, where she locked the door and called 911. The suspect ran away.
The victim described the suspect to police as a heavyset man around 30 years old with short dark hair. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 412-422-6520.
The attack comes at a time when college students have started to return to the city, with Carnegie Mellon students starting classes on Aug. 26.
CMU students say they don't feel safe going out at night
Carnegie Mellon students are on edge after the attempted sexual assault.
"It's scary that he is still out there. It's scary that it happened at all," CMU senior Chloe Brown said.
"I know being right around the corner of it feels very scary. It makes it feel a lot more tangible," CMU senior Alex Echols said.
Calvin Lee remembers seeing a ton of police on Tuesday night.
"It's concerning," said Lee, a recent CMU graduate. "I'm concerned."
Neighbors said police also went door to door looking for the suspect, who is still at large.
"We have to take all precautions that we can and hope such things never happen again," CMU freshman Arpitha Prakash said.
"Do you feel safe at night," KDKA-TV's Jennifer Borrasso asked one student.
"Definitely not," CMU freshman Neharika Srivastav said. "We don't get out of the house after 9 p.m."