RICHMOND, Va. -- A woman was allegedly attacked while walking in a Richmond neighborhood earlier this week.
According to Richmond police, the victim was walking in the 100 block of North Morris street around 8 p.m. Wednesday when detectives said a man approached her from behind and grabbed her.
The victim resisted and police said the suspect threatened her with a knife. She managed to break away and her attacker fled on foot.
Tess Griffin, who live across the street from the scene of the alleged crime, heard a commotion.
“We heard her start screaming, ‘Help! Someone please help me,’” Griffin said."We ran to the window and we're kind of looking down here to see if everything was OK."
Griffin said neighbors tried to comfort the victim.
Devin Lanier, another VCU student who lives nearby, said he could not believe what was happening.
"You think that this is safe with campus being right there. We all walk here all the time," Lanier said.
VCU police identified the victim as a student and that has other students on edge because of the number of text messages they receive on their cell phones alerting them about an off-campus crime.
But Zachary Edwards, who is also a VCU student, said he has never been felt unsafe.
"I've never really felt like it's a danger, especially living two blocks away," Edwards said.
Richmond police are increasing patrols in the neighborhood as they search for the suspect.
