RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond police said a woman stabbed twice Monday night after a run in Shockoe Bottom sensed someone was following her before the violent attack.
The woman was attacked along the 1500 block of Main Street, near Main Street Station, according to witnesses. The attack happened at around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 when a man jumped out at her with a knife, according to Richmond Police Captain Yvonne Crowder. The man sliced the jogger’s arm twice with a knife, Crowder said. An image captured at the scene of the crime shows several spots of bloodstain from the woman's wounds.
"I would never expect something like that to happen here," Giao Roever, who works in Shockoe Bottom, said.
Richmond police said the woman had just finished a run and was walking down Main Street toward Shockoe Bottom when she got the sense that someone was following her.
"You feel guilty for assuming that they're following you and even acting on it, so you just keep going," Roever, who goes on runs frequently, said when asked if she would do if she was in a similar situation.
Lieutenant Tim Wyatt said the woman did just that, kept walking, and when she reached Main Street Station a man jumped out in front of her, grabbed her, and told her not to scream.
She screamed anyway, and that's when he stabbed her twice in the arm.
"Several citizens came to her aid out there, provided medical treatment until ambulance service could arrive on scene," Wyatt said.
Wyatt said police are doubling up patrols in the area,but have no leads on why the man attacked the woman or who he might be. He said people should still feel safe in Shockoe Bottom, but warns young women to be aware of their surroundings, and if they feel someone is following them, to trust their gut, and seek out other people immediately.
"In that environment you've got several businesses around, step into one of them, let them know what's going on," Wyatt said.
Police described the suspect as a light-complected black man in his 20s. He is said to be 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 inches and have an athletic build with short, black curly hair. He was wearing white trousers and a dark-colored shirt.
"First Precinct patrol officers, while already maintaining a robust, high-visibility patrol in the area, will bolster patrol units and coverage while the investigation into this aggravated assault continues. A portion of this augmented presence will be of the covert, undercover variety," police said.
Anyone with information was asked to call Major Crimes Detective David Cuffley at 804-646-3914 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
