2 Girls Assaulted at Union Station

Authorities warned the public Friday of a rapist who may be responsible for two recent daylight attacks on teenage transit riders in an underground stairwell at Union Station.

The first girl was raped July 16 between 9 and 11 a.m., said Sheriff’s Det. Jeanine Lum. The second incident, an attempted rape, occurred Thursday in the same stairwell at Gateway Plaza’s underground garage about 2:15 p.m.

The second victim told police she was about to use an elevator when a man directed her to the stairs instead. Once inside the stairwell, the man grabbed at her clothing, but she punched and kicked him and screamed for help, deputies said. The man let her go, but stole her cellphone before running away.

Each girl described her attacker as an African American in his late 20s, with short hair and a height of 5 feet 10 to 6 feet 2.

But because other descriptions differed, authorities are not ruling out the possibility that two attackers were involved.

The first victim told deputies that the man had a medium to muscular build with a light beard, Lum said, while the second victim said her attacker’s build was medium to slight and that he had a heavier beard.

In a memo to employees, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief Executive Roger Snoble said few crimes have occurred at downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station in recent years. He said last week’s attack was the first known sexual assault there. The Sheriff’s Department has beefed up security in the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call (213) 922-3579.