Nurse Fights Off Rapist In Harlem Building, Police Say

HARLEM, NY — A nurse working on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis in New York City hospitals fought off a rapist who followed her into her apartment building in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem, police said.

The 32-year-old woman was attacked after entering her West 149th Street building on Friday night, police said. The attacker punched the nurse in the face and attempted to rip off her pants, but the nurse fought him off, police said. The attempted rapist fled the building with the woman's phone, an NYPD spokesperson said.

The nurse suffered pain and bruising during the attack, but refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke about the attack during his Monday press briefing.

"We're obviously very pained anytime anybody is attacked, particularly someone who is doing such noble work for all of us," de Blasio said. "We will certainly bring the individual involved, the perpetrator to justice. There's no question, and we will support that nurse in every way we can."

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said that he has "no doubt" that somebody will be able to identify the attacker based on surveillance footage from the apartment building that captured the attack. Police released a photo of the suspect (seen above) on Sunday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477).