PITTSBURGH — Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault that was reported to have happened early Sunday morning near the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in Oakland.
According to the university’s police department, authorities were called about 4 a.m. to the 300 block of Semple Street for the reported assault of a woman. Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Sonya Toler said the victim is 20 years old.
The woman was reportedly assaulted by a man described as being black, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and having full sleeve tattoos.
Pitt students told Channel 11 News that the incident has them concerned about safety.
“Pretty terrifying that it's here. I live right here and I definitely think something needs to be done,” Kristen Faiola, a senior at Pitt, said. “I have two girl roommates and we have very different schedules, and so a lot of times we’re walking by ourselves.”
Martin Echavarria, who is also a senior at Pitt, said he’s going to be on the lookout and will be encouraging his girlfriend to use the buddy system.
“It's definitely very concerning. My girlfriend is also a student at University of Pittsburgh and I wouldn't want something to happen to her or to any of her friends,” Echavarria said.
The reported sexual assault is not the only crime that has Pitt students on edge. Recently, there has been a string of burglaries in the area, with two more were reported over the weekend, one in the 300 block of Semple Street and another in the 300 block of South Bouquet Street.
“My mom texted me actually last week and was like, ‘Make sure you're locking your doors.’ We keep hearing about things and so we've been trying to be extra safe, but I didn't know it was this bad,” Faiola said.
Anyone with information about the reported sexual assault is asked to call the University of Pittsburgh Police Department at 412-624-2121 or Pittsburgh police at 911.