12-Year-Old Girl Raped at School in Buena Park

A 12-year-old girl was raped at knifepoint Friday by a man who apparently followed her into the restroom of a Buena Park elementary school, police said.

The girl, whose name was withheld, was treated and released at a hospital for minor injuries caused by being thrown to the ground.

“This was a very aggressive attack,” said Gary Worrall, a Buena Park police spokesman.

The rape occurred about 9 a.m. at Gordon H. Beatty Elementary School in the 8200 block of Country Club Drive. The girl entered the restroom followed by a man. Worrall said that after the man pushed her to the ground and assaulted her, he “ultimately was spooked because he heard other students and ran away.”

The attacker is described as in his 30s, white, 5-feet-10, 170 pounds with blond hair, a silver tooth and a 1-inch scar on his cheek.

Worrall said it was unclear how the attacker got onto the campus. “There’s a fence,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have climbed over it. He could conceivably have walked through the main entrance; we just don’t know.”

The campus was locked down for several hours as police searched for the man, who was wearing a dark jacket with Asian-style writing on the back and black pants.

Parents arriving to pick up their children later in the day were given copies of a letter from the principal notifying them of the incident and outlining precautions. School officials could not be reached for comment late Friday.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the attacker, who may have been seen near the campus before school started. Anyone with information is asked to call (714) 562-3972.

“We have some pretty promising leads,” Worrall said. “I’m very optimistic that we’ll be able to find this guy.”