Following Up on a Sexual Assault of Teen in Front of Public Library

Teen Sexually Assaulted Outside Va. Library. (WUSA9.com, 1/13/2013)

Mentioned in article

• 14-year-old girl sexually assaulted while standing in front of the Potomac Community Library in Woodbridge, Virginia, at 5:20 p.m.  on Friday, January 11, 2013
• Suspect is a white male, 18 to 22 years of age, 6'2"-6'5", thin build with a messy beard, pale skin, thin mouth, pointy nose and a northern accent, possibly from New Jersey.
• Suspect approached her from behind.

Not mentioned in article (and not necessarily that these items should have been.  They are just questions/unknown details that came to mind while reading the brief account.)

• The library closes at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays.  (Article notes the incident occurred while it was closed.  I assume that by 5:20, all staff members had left the library.)
• Had the girl been in the library?  Was she waiting for a ride?  Had she previously been in the company of friends?  (Should the last staff member to leave the library feel obligated to check to see if anyone looks to be waiting for a ride?)
•  Is "outside" synonymous with "at or near the front entrance"?
• Since this incident occurred after sunset, how well illuminated is the exterior of the library?  (Google Street View shows a street light on State Route 642, which runs parallel to the south side of the library, and a flagpole near the library's entrance, which faces west.) 
• Since the suspect approached her from behind, are there any exterior library features that compromise people's safety?  Like an unsightly bush or overgrown shrubbery?

 

More than one reason to remove shrubbery.