A Georgetown student was assaulted last Friday between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. in front of the Georgetown University Hospital. The student was able to escape without serious injury.
Elizabeth Nakumoto (SFS ‘04) reported to the Metropolitan Police Department that she was on her way to visit a friend in the hospital when she became lost. She asked a white male who was standing outside for directions. The man replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about,” and then grabbed Nakumoto by her upper left arm and pulled her to him.
Nakumoto said that she hit her aggressor on the head once with her cell phone before escaping. She said that the aggressor pursued her until she reached the parking lot between the hospital and Darnall Hall. He stopped chasing her at this point because other people were present, she said. Nakumoto said that she ran until she reached Gaston Hall where she had a performance with the GraceNotes that evening.
Nakumoto later discovered that her upper left arm was bruised in the area that she had been gripped by her assailant.
Nakumoto was interviewed over the weekend by Department of Public Safety Officer Cetrina Smith and the hospital security. She said that she has not been in contact with either DPS or the Metropolitan Police Department since then.
The subject is described as a white male, approximately six feet tall, in his early twenties. He has a medium build, brown hair, no facial hair and was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored pants at the time of the assault. The subject is believed to have been seen in the vicinity of the GU Hospital Emergency Room a short time before the assault.
DPS and MPD are collectively working on the investigation into possible leads. “We are coordinating our efforts with Metropolitan to identify any suspects,” said Assistant Director of Public Safety Darryl Harrison.
Lt. Brian Bray from MPD, who has been assigned as the chief investigator for this case, said that Smith conducted a thorough investigation after the incident. Bray said that Smith interviewed the hospital staff and found out that they had discharged a man approximately 30 minutes before the assault for unacceptable behavior.
Bray said that their current suspect is a homeless man. The man reported his place of residence to the GU Hospital as the 14th Street Shelter. The shelter had no record of his name.
“They don’t have him on sign-in sheets. He might be homeless. I ran his name, the name he gave, which could be false. He doesn’t have a criminal history or background,” Bray said, “The student probably couldn’t identify the guy, she was very shaken up.”
Both DPS and Lt. Bray emphasized the importance of students to exercise safety during hours of darkness. “Make sure you have somebody with you. Use the DPS escort service,” said Bray.
