Woman violently assaulted on street, robbed of purse in Southern California

Police are searching for a man responsible for a violent assault and robbery of a woman earlier this week in San Fernando, authorities confirmed to KTLA.  

The broad daylight attack occurred on April 15 just before 3 p.m. in the 200 block of Park Avenue.

The victim, Juliana Murillo, had just bought her mother a bouquet of flowers for her birthday when her attacker came up from behind as she was just outside her apartment building and violently knocked her down, sending everything she was holding, including the flowers, to the ground.

“He pushed me really hard and I hit my head on the door,” Murillo told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “My body just went into shock. I couldn’t process what was going on. I kept saying, ‘What are you doing, what are you doing?’ He used force to turn me over and he pulled out my purse and took off.”

Despite the hit to her head, Murillo was able to put up a fight, struggling with the man, who eventually made off with her purse, which carried her car keys, credit cards and identification.  

The suspect then took off in a dark-colored vehicle.

Murillo suffered several injuries, including a giant bruise on her right knee and said her sense of security was shattered.

“I was born and raised in San Fernando,” she said. “I’m a daughter, sister, I’m a friend, a loved one and no loved one should go through this. It was unexpected. It was just traumatic.”

Neighbor Martin Aviles told KTLA in Spanish that he saw the vehicle the man fled in, but was unable to make out the license plate. Residents said the suspect is not from the neighborhood.

Murillo said the man later tried to use one of her credit cards to get into a Paypal account.

This incident comes on the heels of another violent assault on a woman in Pasadena. In that incident, a man armed with a knife got into a car the woman was sitting in and forced her to drive to another location where he sexually assaulted her.  

The victim in that case was able to fight back and eventually fend her attacker off. The suspect then fled the area before police arrived and has yet to be captured.  

After today’s assault, the community has rallied behind Murillo, who said she’s speaking out to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

“Always be vigilant,” she said. “I speak for many women who have been attacked that feel scared. Don’t be scared. We’re a community can uplift each other and take care of one another.”

What was left of Murillo’s purse was later found and returned to her.

Anyone who recognizes the man in the video or may have knowledge of this incident is encouraged to contact the San Fernando Police Department at 818-898-1267. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at L.A. Crime Stoppers.