LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department has confirmed it's looking for one man they believe is responsible for a string of attacks on women in southwest Jefferson County, with one assault happening as recently as August 24.
In an update Friday, Sergeant Joe Keeling, an LMPD detective, told WHAS11 he believes the suspect is likely to strike again and that his team is working diligently to identify him before that happens.
"We want everybody to be aware of their surroundings and call in anything they see that is suspicious," Keeling said.
Keeling told reporters these incidents are becoming increasingly violent and more prevalent, concentrated in one region of southwest Louisville with multiple apartment complexes. He believes money is the primary motive for the suspect.
"The more he goes, the more he's escalating," Keeling said.
Metro Police believe "there is a pattern emerging" in its 3rd Division, as officers report seven women have been assaulted in the area, since June 25 -- and we're told there could be more.
An LMPD spokesperson said its Office of Sexual and Physical Investigations, or Sex Crime Unit, is currently investigating a seventh incident. That incident took place on July 23 at 4:11 a.m. in the 6800 block of Yazoo Street.
All seven assaults took place overnight, between midnight and 5 a.m., in and near the PRP and Valley Station areas, police said.
What does the suspect look like?
In every incident reported to police, so far, LMPD spokesperson Matt Sanders said "the suspect's description is similar as well as the involvement of a handgun."
As detailed in at least six police reports, LMPD is looking for a Black male with a thin build and light skin, standing about 5-foot-10, carrying a gun, wearing black clothes and a black mask.
Here are when the assaults were reported:
- June 25, 3:44 a.m., 6800 block of Yazoo Street.
- July 20, 5:16 a.m., 7900 block of Moss Creek Drive.
- Aug. 11, 5 a.m., 7900 block of Moss Creek Drive.
- Aug. 13, 12:44 a.m., 6800 block of Yazoo Street.
- Aug. 18, 2:25 a.m., 5400 block of Eight Bells Lane.
- Aug. 24, 4:20 a.m., 8500 block of Tallahatchie Street.
Keeling said it seems the man is targeting women who are 'alone in parking lots,' saying it appears he is acting alone but police are open to the fact that other people who haven't yet been seen could be helping.
Police say they haven't been able to get their hands on much surveillance video, despite the vast amount of apartments and businesses nearby. Keeling said even the footage they do have isn't clear enough to identify the attacker.
He's asking for any help the public can offer, specifically from other victims LMPD may not know about yet.
"If they think they were possibly a victim or were a potential victim of this, than we need to know that too so we can go to those areas and look for video," Keeling said.
Neighbors are concerned
WHAS11 crews traveled to all six addresses on Thursday, and noticed they were either located at or around apartment complexes.
In several incidents, a suspect has stolen the woman's belongings and money but ran away the moment she started screaming or calling someone on the phone for help, according to LMPD. A spokesperson said in one case, from Aug. 18, a suspect got into a woman's car and held her at gunpoint, forcing her to drive to a nearby ATM, to give him cash.
"LMPD wants to remind the community to be vigilant. Be aware of your surroundings. Travel in numbers, if possible," Sanders said. "Park in well-lit areas, trust your instincts [and] avoid being distracted by your phone and keep your hands free."
One woman, who lives near the scene of the latest incident, reported hearing yelling around the time of the attack. She asked WHAS11 not to identify her out of fear for her safety but said she was getting ready for work at the time.
"I just heard yelling, so I walked out on my balcony," the woman said. "I woke my husband up and told him [to] walk me downstairs, because I'd heard rumors that it was happening."
She said the yelling sounded like a man's voice.
"I seen all the police cars, but again, I still didn't know really what was going on," the woman said.
WHAS11 interviewed another woman, who agreed to speak under the same conditions. She lives near Moss Creek Drive, where two of the assaults took place. She said she knows one of the victims as well.
"I believe she is shaken up. But she does seem to be doing okay when I see her," the woman said. "I am pretty sure she's scared and shaken up."
Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous tip line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). LMPD added if anyone sees someone lurking around an apartment complex in the middle of the night, they're told to call 911 or call the non-emergency line at (502) 574-7111.
Keeling is encouraging the community to be vigilant about what's going on around them, as detectives work to solve the case and get the attacker in custody.
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