Two women were violently assaulted in separate incidents along the famous Venice Canals, and police are warning the community about a dangerous suspect on the loose who is believed to be responsible for both attacks, authorities announced Tuesday.
The first attack occurred on April 6 at around 10:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.
The female victim was walking in the 2700 block of Strongs Drive near Venice’s Grand Canal when a man approached her from behind and struck her in the head with a hard object. The blow knocked the woman unconscious.
An hour later, the same suspect assaulted a second woman in the same way as she was walking near the Sherman Canal.
Nearby residents located the second victim and immediately called police. Authorities say both victims sustained significant injuries.
Detectives with LAPD’s Pacific Patrol Division responded and began investigating.
A blood stain is still visible on the back porch of Bila Kahan’s home of 25 years, evidence of the violent attack on the Grand Canal.
“Where is it safe in Los Angeles right now?” she said to KTLA’s Samantha Cortese.
According to statistics collected by LAPD, violent crime in the area is up by 10% compared to this time last year.
L.A. City Councilwoman Park told KTLA that attacks like these are why she’s proposed a real-time “watch center” for Venice like the surveillance system currently operating in Beverly Hills because Pacific-area officers are overwhelmed.
“The hard reality is that because of defunding efforts previously and chronic understaffing, we don’t have enough police to patrol in our neighborhood,” she said. “This is out of control, it’s unacceptable and I want it addressed. We have an opportunity in November to choose a DA who is going to get serious about prosecuting crimes.”
For her part, Kahan agrees.
“If we had a better district attorney who gave them stiffer sentences, I’m sure the crime rate would go down,” she said.
Police say the suspect is described as a male Black or Hispanic with medium to dark skin. He is between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall and weighs between 180 and 200 pounds with short hair that appears to be trimmed around the ears.
“Residents are encouraged to be aware of the surroundings and notify the police of any suspicious activity or persons loitering in this area,” the release stated. “As detectives work to identify and arrest this suspect, the LAPD will be increasing patrols in the Venice community.”
The deployment of additional officers was approved as a precautionary measure and residents should expect to see more police vehicles in the neighborhood, authorities added.
LAPD crime data compiled by CrosstownLA show there were 481 assault reports, not including domestic cases, in Venice in 2023, and 90 from Jan. 1 through March 31 of this year. The neighborhood saw a recent high of 609 assaults in 2020.
Anyone with information that could lead to the identification and arrest of this suspect, along with additional victims or witnesses, is urged to contact LAPD’s Special Assault Detectives at 213-473-0477. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at L.A. Crime Stoppers.