UCLA Campus Encounters Violent Crime
A homeless man has been arrested after allegedly terrorizing female students at UCLA in a series of late-night attacks, which included attempted kidnapping, sexual assault, and robbery, authorities report.
Olumuyiwa Akindafunsi, 29, who has no affiliation with the university, was apprehended early Friday morning following these disturbing incidents across the Westwood campus.
During the investigation, police found zip ties, duct tape, and nylon rope, which raised further alarms about the nature of the attacks. Akindafunsi is currently being held at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Reception Center with a bail set at $2.3 million.
He faces serious charges, including robbery, sexual assault, attempted kidnapping, and assault with intent to commit a sexual offense. The first reported incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Thursday when a student said she was attacked from behind on Bruin Walk. The suspect reportedly stole her cell phone before fleeing the scene.
As police searched for him, more reports of assaults surfaced from various residence halls like De Neve Evergreen, Dykstra Hall, and Cedar Hall. Authorities believe Akindafunsi attempted to restrain and sexually assault other female students at different locations.
The crime spree only ceased when victims fought back or bystanders stepped in. Officers intervened after a report of an assault in progress at Cedar Hall just after midnight. Witnesses heard a student screaming for help and chased the suspect, leading officers to Parking Lot 8 where Akindafunsi was arrested.
This situation has intensified concerns over safety among students, especially along Hilgard Street, known as sorority row, where women have reported being yelled at, followed, or insulted. Ella Hernando, president of the UCLA Panhellenic Council, expressed worries about the increasing frequency of harassment incidents in recent years.
Recently, a sorority at UCLA hired private security due to rising complaints about aggressive behaviors, harassment, and inappropriate comments directed at female students on Hilgard Street. University officials clarified that Akindafunsi does not appear to have any links to past incidents on or around campus.
This arrest follows another severe crime involving a man not affiliated with UCLA. Last month, a Santa Monica individual was charged with kidnapping a UCLA student with the intent to rape her in March, in addition to being charged with raping an unrelated woman in October near Culver City.
