Authorities are investigating after two women were randomly attacked in separate incidents Thursday on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.
The two victims were attacked by the suspect in the same area of Ventura Boulevard. The first incident occurred around 9 a.m. on April 18, as the woman was getting out of her car in a parking lot.
The victim – who does not wish to be identified for security reasons – claims to have been tackled to the ground by the man after getting out of his vehicle.
“He threw me from behind and I rolled over several times,” she told KTLA 5’s Rachel Menitoff. “I called the police and I was so upset that nothing was done .”
The second incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in a nearby neighborhood on Ventura Boulevard. Surveillance video from the area shows a man dressed in black randomly assaulting the woman, but she managed to run away and take a few photos of her attacker.
“I just continued on my way,” said the second victim, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons. “As I veered a little right to pass him, he just hit me.”
Witnesses from a nearby restaurant went out to chase the suspect, but lost sight of him. Both victims believe it was the same man who hit them in two separate incidents.
According to police, it appears that a passing man was the attacker. Authorities have not released any further details about the suspect.
Area business owners are also increasingly concerned. Art Habibi is the owner of Dojo Sushi and he says he is tired of the increase in criminal activity near his restaurant.
“To me, it’s almost like zombies that live on another planet and are now roaming the streets,” Habibi said. “You just have to be careful, you can’t keep your eyes on your phone.”
Both women described the suspect as being approximately 6 feet tall. He wore a hoodie and they both say he had a long gray beard. The victims are hoping someone will recognize their attacker and help police make his arrest.
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