Masked gunman attacks woman
By Jason Kuiper
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
A masked gunman attacked a woman this morning after she let her dog outside and left the door unlocked to her central Omaha home.
A couple minutes after the woman let the dog out, the assailant entered her house, pointed a gun at her and demanded money, according to Omaha police. He then began to sexually assault her. The woman slipped and fell while trying to escape and injured her leg, police said. It was unknown whether the man left the house when she fell.
The woman's 5-year-old son was sleeping in the house during the attack and was not injured, police said.
Police said they had no information about when or how the man left the house or whether he took any valuables.
Omaha Police Lt. Michael McGee said police still were working to determine what happened at the home, which is near North 89th Plaza and Burt Street. The
woman was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons. A medical examination was expected to determine whether she was raped, police said.
The only description police had of the man as of this morning was that he was about 5-foot-8 with an average build.
After the attack, the woman went to the home of a neighbor, who called in a report about 7:30 a.m.
Police blocked off the area, which is just north of West Dodge Road and east of 90th Street, until they determined it was safe for medics to enter the victim's home.
Police were canvassing the area near the home for the attacker. They were searching a small wooded area just north of the woman's home. That area is separated from the home by a wooden fence.
Police also were looking for witnesses and additional information about the attack.
McGee said it was too early to tell whether the attack was related to other recent sexual assaults. Police have been searching for a man believed to be responsible for assaults dating back to 1999. That suspect is described as being between 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-3, with a dark complexion and an athletic build.
One woman who lives near the townhome where the attack was reported was visibly shaken. She heard her own alarm go off around 8 a.m., about half an hour after the attack was reported.
The neighbor took her child and left the house after the alarm went off because her husband was out of town. She returned when a relative came over to the home to be with her. Police searched her home but found nothing.
McGee said people should be aware of anything out of the ordinary in their neighborhoods. He said to make a mental note of anyone who isn't familiar to their area or call police if they see anything suspicious.
The area where the attack occurred is under 24-hour video surveillance. Police said they plan to look at the video.
Staff writer Judith Nygren contributed to this report.
By Jason Kuiper
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
A masked gunman attacked a woman this morning after she let her dog outside and left the door unlocked to her central Omaha home.
A couple minutes after the woman let the dog out, the assailant entered her house, pointed a gun at her and demanded money, according to Omaha police. He then began to sexually assault her. The woman slipped and fell while trying to escape and injured her leg, police said. It was unknown whether the man left the house when she fell.
The woman's 5-year-old son was sleeping in the house during the attack and was not injured, police said.
Police said they had no information about when or how the man left the house or whether he took any valuables.
Omaha Police Lt. Michael McGee said police still were working to determine what happened at the home, which is near North 89th Plaza and Burt Street. The
woman was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons. A medical examination was expected to determine whether she was raped, police said.
The only description police had of the man as of this morning was that he was about 5-foot-8 with an average build.
After the attack, the woman went to the home of a neighbor, who called in a report about 7:30 a.m.
Police blocked off the area, which is just north of West Dodge Road and east of 90th Street, until they determined it was safe for medics to enter the victim's home.
Police were canvassing the area near the home for the attacker. They were searching a small wooded area just north of the woman's home. That area is separated from the home by a wooden fence.
Police also were looking for witnesses and additional information about the attack.
McGee said it was too early to tell whether the attack was related to other recent sexual assaults. Police have been searching for a man believed to be responsible for assaults dating back to 1999. That suspect is described as being between 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-3, with a dark complexion and an athletic build.
One woman who lives near the townhome where the attack was reported was visibly shaken. She heard her own alarm go off around 8 a.m., about half an hour after the attack was reported.
The neighbor took her child and left the house after the alarm went off because her husband was out of town. She returned when a relative came over to the home to be with her. Police searched her home but found nothing.
McGee said people should be aware of anything out of the ordinary in their neighborhoods. He said to make a mental note of anyone who isn't familiar to their area or call police if they see anything suspicious.
The area where the attack occurred is under 24-hour video surveillance. Police said they plan to look at the video.
Staff writer Judith Nygren contributed to this report.
