Many people are outraged at a brazen attack on a woman visiting her mother in Los Angeles, which was captured on security tape.
Juliana Murillo told KTLA-TV that she was speaking forward to help authorities catch the person who attacked her in her hometown of San Fernando.
“I was born and raised in San Fernando,” she told me. “I’m a daughter, sister, friend, and loved one, and no loved one deserves to go through this. It was unexpected. It was simply traumatic.
Murillo claimed she was giving a bouquet of flowers to her mother for her birthday on Monday shortly before 3 p.m. when the attacker sneaked up behind her and brutally slammed her to the ground. She claimed she banged her face into her mother’s metal exterior door as she fell.
“He pushed me really hard and I hit my head on the door,” she recalled. “My body went into shock.” I couldn’t understand what was going on. I kept asking, “What are you doing?” He used force to roll me over, then took off with my pocketbook.”
Murillo managed to resist the man for a few moments before he stole her handbag and escaped in a dark-colored BMW. A neighbor saw him drive away but said he couldn’t read the license plate.
Murillo claimed that the man was able to steal her car keys, credit cards, and ID. He also attempted to use her credit card shortly afterward and was able to access her PayPal account, according to the victim. She also had a massive bruise on her knee.
SFPD Lt. Walter Dominguez characterized the suspect as a light-skinned Hispanic in his thirties with a black mustache. He informed the San Fernando Sun that the number of “strong-arm robberies” in the neighborhood hasn’t increased.
Murillo provided advise to anyone who may be targeted in these attacks.
“Always be vigilant,” Murillo said. “I speak for countless women who have been attacked and are afraid. Do not be terrified. We are a community that can support and care for one another.