A 27-year-old suspected gang member who had just been released from jail has been arrested in the daytime sexual assault of a woman in a park bathroom in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, police said Tuesday.
The victim was walking through the park at noon Monday when the attacker approached and tried to talk to her, according to an LAPD news release.
She ignored him, but he “suddenly approached her from behind,” held a gun to her head and forced her into the park’s public restroom, the release stated.
In the bathroom, the man sexually assaulted the 31-year-old woman, police said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital and was treated for assault and rape, LAPD Officer Liliana Preciado said.
At an afternoon news conference at Los Angeles Police Department headquarters, the suspect was identified at 27-year-old Edgar Alexander Lobos, whom police described as a known gang member.
He had been released from jail the same day at the assault, police said.
“He had been released just after midnight that morning and within 12 hours had victimized another person,” LAPD Capt. William Hayes said.
Witnesses helped identify Lobos, who police said is known in the area due to his distinctive facial tattoos. He was arrested about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday after detectives worked overnight to find him.
Lobos’ booking photo was not released. He was being held on $1 million bail on suspicion of kidnapping for rape.
He has a criminal history, police said.
Anyone with information about the suspect or additional victims is asked to call Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-486-6890.
KTLA’s Alberto Mendez and Scott Williams contributed to this report.