For the second time in one week, San Diego State University police are looking for a sexual assault suspect.
The latest alleged assault happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the campus-owned Granada Apartments. The apartment complex is located at Hardy Avenue and 55th Street, about one block from Viejas Arena.
According to a crime alert from the university, the victim told officers that a young man tried to befriend her as she was walking home. The SDSU student claimed the man followed her into her apartment and sexually assaulted her.
The suspect ran away when one of the victim’s roommates arrived, officials said.
Aztec students said it’s a shame an incident like this has already been reported just days into the college semester.
“(I’m) scared of walking alone, especially at night,” said freshman Alexa Romano, who lives at the Granada Apartments.
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“We usually have a security guard there at night, and you have to check in with your card,” Romano said. “But they're installing an alarm on the stairs so no one can sneak in.”
It is unclear how the suspect gained access to the building.
Campus police are asking students to be on the lookout for the suspect. He is described as a man in his early 20s, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 with an average build, tan skin, chocolate brown hair, brown eyes and possibly unshaven. He was wearing a baggy t-shirt with a gray center and multi-colored sleeves.
Witnesses are asked to call the campus police department at 619-594-1991 or email police@mail.sdsu.edu.
"It's scary, but then at the same time, it makes me feel good that they're actually doing something in the aftermath of what happens in sexual assaults,” said freshman Hannah King.
On Labor Day, another SDSU student said she was sexually assaulted in a bathroom at an off-campus house party near College Place and College Avenue.
Earlier this year, the California State Auditor found that SDSU did not adequately train staff on how to respond to sexual assault complaints. The audit also found SDSU needed to do a better job letting victims know how to report sexual assaults and what they can expect from the university.
The state also audited UC Berkeley, UCLA and Cal State Chino's sexual assault practices.
SDSU reported 31 sexual assaults from 2010 to 2012.
