Strangulation Attack on Girl Thwarted at Buena Park High

A 16-year-old girl was attacked in the Buena Park High School locker room before school Monday by a young man who tried to strangle her with a nylon rope, police said.

The girl was changing clothes after an early-morning swim team practice when she was attacked shortly after 7 a.m.

Police believe the attacker was waiting in the locker room. Some lockers had been burglarized, Buena Park Police Sgt. Ken Coovert said.

The girl was not seriously hurt. Three other students in the locker room came to her aid when she began screaming. The attacker then ran away, police said.

“This could have been extremely tragic,” Coovert said. “It is very fortunate for her that her friends were in near proximity and that she started immediately resisting the attack.”

Police were still searching Monday night for the attacker, whom they described as 17 to 20 years old, about 5-feet-7, 130 to 150 pounds, with short, dark hair and brown eyes. Authorities said he was last seen wearing a blue swimsuit, a hooded blue sweatshirt and no shoes.

Investigators said Monday night that they have not ruled out the possibility that the assailant is a student at the school.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call police at (714) 562-3902.