Woman Sexually Assaulted Entering NYU's Catholic Center

A 24-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and robbed while entering the NYU Catholic Center on Thompson Street early this morning. An NYPD spokesperson says the assailant is a black man with athletic build who was wearing a gray sweater, black fedora hat and jeans. He first spoke to the victim, then pushed her inside and assaulted her, punching her face and torso, causing lacerations, bruises and swelling to her face and body. During the attack, he ripped her stockings and sexually assaulted her.

The NYPD says the suspect fled and remains at large. No arrests have been made. The victim, whose affiliation with NYU is unclear, was taken to Beth Israel hospital for treatment. A statement from NYU reads:

About 5:30 am this morning, a woman affiliated with the Catholic Center in the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life on Thompson St. was the victim of a robbery and attempted sexual assaulted as she was letting herself into the building. The victim has been transported to the hospital, where she is being treated; her condition is reported as stable.

The assailant is described as a muscular black man wearing a sweater, sweatshirt, or hoodie with a bandage of some type (perhaps an ace bandage or a cast) on one arm. The assailant is believed to have followed the victim along the south side of the park prior to the assault and robbery, which was a push-in type robbery that occurred as she was keying herself into the building.

"I know you join me in praying for the well-being of the victim, and in hoping that the person who committed this crime is brought to justice swiftly," Jules Martin, Vice President for Public Safety, added. Earlier this month an NYU student was sexually assaulted in the vestibule of her building on Thompson Street.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.