The Jan. 2 attempted murder of a student who had taken a bus home from UCLA to East Hollywood might be connected to an attempted sexual assault on campus five days later, according to a report tonight in the Daily Bruin.

In the Hollywood case the victim reported a suspect of a similar description followed her home even as she switched buses: He sat across from her, stared at her in a “sexual manner,” followed her off the bus at Melrose and Normandie avenues, and attacked her on North Mariposa Avenue, a detective told the paper.

The man allegedly …

… pulled her to the ground, attempted to strangle her and slashed her neck with a sharp object before fleeing when a car's headlights spooked him, according to the Bruin.

The victim's injuries required stitches.


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The paper says the LAPD, which is investigating that case, is sending security video screen-grabs to UCLA police in hopes they might connect the two cases.

The Jan. 7 attack on campus happened at 1:15 a.m. Similarly, a man approached a woman from behind and threatened her before he fled.

UCLA described that suspect as …

… a light-skinned Caucasian male with short dark hair, approximately 30 to 35 years old, 5'10″ to 6 feet tall, with a thin build. He is reported to have been wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

If you have info call campus cops at 310-825-9371.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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