Woman Kidnaped, Raped, Beaten by 2 Claiming to Be Gang Members

A 19-year-old woman was kidnaped, raped and beaten early Monday by two armed men who identified themselves to her as gang members from Los Angeles County, police said.

“When they released her, they said that by not killing her, that was their Christmas present to her,” Police Lt. Ed McErlain said.

The woman was walking from her car through the parking lot of her apartment complex when the men approached and asked directions, police said.

“She attempted to run from the men, but they grabbed her and struck her in the face several times and forced her into their vehicle at gunpoint,” McErlain said.

They held her captive for about an hour, beat her repeatedly and raped her, he said. Both men had guns.

After she was released, the woman went to a nearby home and called police. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for a possibly broken nose, McErlain said.

McErlain said one assailant was described as Samoan-American, about 22, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 200 pounds, with brown hair. The other was described as a stocky Latino, about 22 and 200 pounds, with brown hair. The victim described their car as a “four-door, shiny blue compact.”