Police Say USIU Attacker May Be Student

One woman was raped and three were sexually assaulted within 20 hours at United States International University, San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson said.

Police believe the attacks are related and that the assailant may be a student.

A 25-year-old student was in her dormitory room about noon Friday when a man entered and pushed her into a chair. The man claimed he had a gun and fondled her, but fled when she screamed.

At 5 a.m. Saturday, a 28-year-old woman awakened in her cottage and found a man kneeling next to her bed. He covered her mouth and nose with his hand but “she struggled, scratched, bit and kicked the suspect” until he fled, Robinson said.

Ten minutes later, a man pinned down the shoulders of a 22-year-old woman in her bed, then fled when he heard noises outside her cottage.

About an hour later, a 21-year-old woman was awakened by noises in her cottage and encountered a man in a hallway. He claimed he had a gun and then raped her.

University security has been increased, and students have been informed about the crimes, University Relations Director Anne Slavicek said.

Graduation ceremonies were held Sunday, and many of the university’s 2,000 students had left for the summer before the attacks occurred, Slavicek said.

She said it was the first rape on campus she has heard of since she arrived seven years ago.