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Woman Was Sexually Assaulted by Man She Asked for Help After Earlier Attack

By Janet Upadhye | September 17, 2014 2:15pm
Second Suspect in Clinton Hill Sexual Assaults
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NYPD

CLINTON HILL — A woman who was sexually assaulted on a Clinton Hill street begged a passerby for help shortly after the attack — and instead, he sexually assaulted her too, police sources revealed this week.

Police are still looking for the two men who attacked the 31-year-old victim early on the morning of Aug. 31, but sources said this week that the second attacker was someone she approached seeking help after the first gunpoint sex assault.

The two attackers are believed to live in the area, but investigators don't think they know one another, sources said.

"It’s disgusting that this type of thing can happen,” Capt. Peter Fiorillo, commanding officer of the 88th Precinct, told those present at a community council meeting Tuesday night.

Fiorillo, who took over the precinct in March, called the assaults “the worst thing I’ve seen since I’ve been here” and he vowed to catch the men who were responsible.

“I don’t know how to explain how this type of crime affects people," he said.

The nightmare began when the victim was walking past 187 Gates Ave. around 5 a.m. on Aug. 31 when a man crossed from the other side, shoved her to the ground and sexually assaulted her while telling her he had a gun, police said.

Less than an hour later the woman approached a man near 58 Irving Pl. and asked for help but was sexually assaulted again, according to police sources.

In that case the suspect also threatened to use a gun, according to the NYPD. Neither suspect displayed a weapon, police said.

The suspect in the first attack is 5-foot-7 and was wearing blue jeans and a red T-shirt. The second suspect, who was caught on surveillance video released by police, is 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, police said.

In the wake of the attacks, Fiorillo increased enforcement in the immediate area and established a team to concentrate on the case. Fiorillo said he wants closure to the case for the sake of the victim and the community.

“We are doing are best to address this in the way we know how,” he said. “I believe that somewhere down the line we will find these two individuals that did this to this woman.”

“I hope we can come to a quick end to this.”

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).