A 21-year-old woman was choked unconscious on the street in Hell’s Kitchen by a stranger who then tried to rape her but ran off when she started waking up, police said Tuesday.
Cops released surveillance footage of the on-the-loose suspect in the hopes someone recognizes him.
The young woman was nearing the corner of W. 47th St. and Eighth Ave. when the attacker crept up behind her and put his arm around her neck about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, cops said. He dragged her to the ground as he choked her unconscious, cops said.
The would-be rapist was attempting to take the woman’s clothes off when she woke up and he ran off west on W. 47th St. towards Ninth Ave., cops said.
The woman was was taken to Metropolitan Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.
Cops canvassing the area recovered surveillance footage of the suspect, who was wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and white sneakers.
The attack comes as cops fight a 22% jump in rapes for the year as of Aug. 3, with 1,196 attacks this year compared to 976 by this time last year. NYPD officials have said the increase is attributable in part to legislative changes made last September that broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State, which now includes additional forms of sexual assault.
Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
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