Police hunt suspect A morning assault on a 13-year-old girl who was walking across the grounds of Kauluwela Elementary School has some neighbors questioning how the crime could have happened at a time when the area typically is busy.
in morning assault
Neighbors wonder how it
happened in such an active areaBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com
Honolulu police said a male suspect restrained the girl and sexually assaulted her as she was walking to her own school around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
"How can that happen?" asked Peter Yeung, who lives in Kauluwela I, a cooperative high-rise on Aala Street makai of the school's parking lot. "People are walking around at that time. I can't believe it."
The girl, whose name and school have not been released for her protection, fought her attacker and screamed for help, attracting a school janitor who police said scared off the suspect.
Police released a sketch of the suspect yesterday. He is described as about 5 feet 8 inches tall, between 160 to 180 pounds, with a muscular build. He has short, dark brown hair and is clean-shaven. The man was wearing a dark T-shirt and shorts and fled in a black Ford Ranger pickup truck.
Yeung and other area residents said they were shocked to hear of the attack because they believed the school grounds and Kauluwela Community Park, makai of the campus, were safe.
The campus is surrounded by its parking lot at the front of the school along Aala Street, Liliha Library at its rear, the H-1 freeway mauka of the campus and the park makai of the school.
Residents said there usually is activity in the area by 6:30 a.m., with people practicing tai chi in the park and the arrival of operators of a nearby day-care center. Also around that time of the morning, children from Kauluwela II housing, makai of the park, walk to school, and adults head to work.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME from a cellular phone.