A teenage girl was sexually assaulted while she walked to school Monday in southwest suburban Burbank.
The 14-year-old had just stepped off a Pace bus and was on her way to St. Laurence High School about 7:40 a.m. when a man or teenage boy walked up behind her, threatened her with a gun and forced her into a nearby alley in the 7800 block of Central Avenue, according to a statement from Burbank police. He assaulted her in the alley behind a garage.
The teen told officials at the school about the incident, and they contacted police.
The suspect is between 17 and 20 years old, standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-11 and weighing 150 to 170 pounds, police said. He was wearing a red or orange pullover hoodie, black pants and carrying a black backpack.
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Police released stills from a nearby surveillance camera and are asking anyone with information to call investigators at 708-924-7300.
"We feel pretty confident we will be able to identify this guy," Division Chief Mike Dudlo said.
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St. Laurence High School issued a statement saying the safety of students was their "utmost priority" and that they are cooperating with the Burbank Police Department.
The school is also offering counseling to students if there are any concerns after the attack.
Authorities have stepped up patrols around the school after the incident.
"we certainly don't want something like this to happen again. This is horrific and we can't even imagine what the family is going through," Dudlo said.
