NCIS Actress Pauley Perrette Attacked By Homeless Man In LA
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "NCIS" actress Pauley Perrette says she was "alone, terrified and trapped" when a man attacked her and threatened to kill her as she walked in front of her Hollywood home.
The actress tweeted that she thought she was going to die Thursday night. Perrette says the man grabbed her, punched her repeatedly and graphically told her how he was going to kill her.
He kept telling her his name was William, she tweeted.
"There was an empty garage behind me and I knew if he got me in there I knew I was dead. I knew I couldn't overcome him, I prayed my heart out (and) then finally said, 'William is a beautiful name, I have a little nephew named William.'"
The man started to punch her again and then told her to leave.
"And I did. I went into shock. Collapsed on the sidewalk. Some guy walked right past me with a dog that licked my face. He was on his phone, annoyed. Did nothing."
Los Angeles police Officer Jane Kim confirmed that the actress' account of the attack was accurate.
Perrette, who plays forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on the popular television drama, called a friend and neighbor who came and tracked the alleged attacker, then led police to him.
David Merck, who turned 45 on Thursday, was arrested and booked for investigation of aggravated battery. Bail was set at $100,000. He was arrested a few blocks away.
Police say records don't list an attorney for Merck.
"I am shaken and traumatized," Perrette wrote. "My house, my beloved Hollywood. My beloved homeless people that I spend my life protecting. My life changed tonight. My ... I don't know."
She ended her tweet: "We need to not walk alone. I need to heal. I almost died tonight."
