A woman was attacked outside her home in Newark early Sept. 18 after returning from work, and police are now searching for the man they say followed her from a nearby bus stop.
The incident happened at about 1:30 a.m. on the 200 block of Leslie Street, according to Newark police.
Investigators said the woman had just gotten off a bus and was walking toward her apartment when she noticed a man following her. As she reached her building, the man approached her from behind and allegedly began punching her repeatedly while telling her to remain quiet.
The woman fought back and screamed for help. Police said her efforts caused the attacker to flee the area.
Investigators are asking residents and anyone familiar with the area to review what they may have seen around the time of the incident. Police have also released surveillance footage as they work to identify the person involved.
Authorities described the suspect as a Black man with locs. At the time of the attack, he was reportedly wearing a black tank top and blue shorts.
The incident has drawn attention in the neighborhood because the woman was attacked while making the short walk from public transportation to her home. Residents interviewed after the incident said they were disturbed by what happened and that they did not recognize the man shown in the available footage.
As of the latest reports, police had not announced an arrest or released additional details about a possible motive.
Anyone who may know the suspect or have information that could help investigators is asked to contact the Newark Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477). Anonymous tips are accepted.
The investigation remains ongoing.
