COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 26-year-old woman was attacked as she walked on the Olentangy Trail North of Dublin Road around 11 a.m. on Saturday in Columbus.
She said a man came up from behind her and attacked her. Fortunately, there were other people around that were able to rescue her.
Kayla Velasquez runs the Olentangy Trail a few times a week. She likes it because there are usually a lot of people around.
She did not know a woman was attacked here this past weekend.
“That's just scary to think about,” Velasquez said.
The attack happened in broad daylight. The woman says a man pointed a gun at her, took her cell phone, then tried to pull her into the woods.
“We do have additional concerns that after getting the phone he was still interested in having the victim go to some other location. We think that is very concerning,” Columbus Police Sergeant Shaun Laird said.
The woman was able to get the attention of others on the trail that she needed help.
“Her being able to communicate with those people and be able to receive the signal from her that she was in distress, especially in a non-verbal communication made all the difference for her,” Sgt. Laird explained.
Two men were able to scare away the attacker before anything else happened.
Sgt. Laird calls this a rare attack, but a reminder to be aware of your surroundings.
“It's pretty scary. I do think about that as I run because I run by myself. Especially over here, there are areas that are pretty secluded. Someone could easily jump out,” Velasquez said.
Columbus police are increasing patrols on the paths. Police are looking for additional witnesses.
Police said the suspect is a Black man, around 28 to 35 years old, 5-feet 10 inches tall and has a medium build.
He has lighter brown eyes and was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, green sweatpants, blue and white Nike Jordan shoes and a blue medical mask.
If anyone has information about what happened, they are asked to call the Columbus Police Robbery Unit at 614-645-4665 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.