"The hits just kept coming and coming and coming:" Help ID assault suspect who used flowers to lure victim into vicious attack
WANTED IN SEATTLE --
Seattle Police are still working to identify the suspect who pretended to be a flower delivery man before viciously attacking a woman when she came to the door. Opal had to have surgery to replace her orbital socket with a titanium implant. Her daughter has started a fund if you would like to donate to help her recover. Please use this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/pleas-to-help-opal
Surveillance video shows the suspect who police are trying to identify hitting Opal in the face, knocking her back into the lobby of her lower Queen Anne apartment building and onto the ground. He continued to beat her in while she was on the phone with her friend pleading for help. He then pulled out some mace and started spraying her in the face. "I don't understand how a person could be so cruel," said Opal.
Seattle Police need to know the suspect's name. He is between 6'0 and 6'2", in his late 20’s to early 30’s. He has a beard connected to a goatee and no accent. He was wearing a black hoodie with 'Los Angeles' spelled out in white letters on the left sleeve. The attack happened on August 24th. The suspect did not take anything.
Opal says she never saw the bizarre and violent attack coming. “I don’t know who this person is, or where they came from. I opened my door for flowers and I ended up assaulted. How could I go and open a door for somebody who had such ill-intent for me?”
In a flash, she went from excited about getting flowers delivered to curled-up on her lobby floor trying to protect her face. "The hits just kept coming and coming and coming." Painful blows that left her seeing stars, but he wasn't done yet. "He pulls out some tear gas, sprays her numerous times,” said Ret. Det. Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. “He starts to leave and then he turns around and he reaches down, underneath her face and actually sprays all over her face." The victim says she had the spray, “In my throat. In my eyes. In my nose. All over my skin, so I was burning.” Detectives say after the attack, the suspect nonchalantly left the building.
Seattle Police say Opal was clearly targeted but the question is, why? She thinks it's possible the attack is related to her work. Detectives are following up but are asking the public to focus on the photos and video of the suspect to see if they recognize him.
The physical injuries aside, the emotional damage she is suffering is just as bad. She has nightmares, can't sleep and is constantly on-edge and in-fear. "I smell Seattle and it brings the attack back. It is the biggest trigger that I have." She's since moved to a safe location but it hasn't fixed that sick feeling she has inside right now knowing he is still on the loose. "I don't understand how a person could be so cruel?"
Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 if you know his name or where officers can find him. Submit the information anonymously at www.P3Tips.com or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also use the P3 Tips App on your cell phone.