Press Conference on Serial Rapist

 
Who:
Suspected Serial Rapist in Custody
Why:
Public Identification of Possible Additional Victims
What:
Press Conference
When:
Monday, August 6, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Where:
Operations West Bureau in the "Community Room"
4849 W. Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles

Los Angeles: On July 27, 2001, at approximately 3:45 a.m., and again on August 1, 2001 at approximately 3:00 a.m., a male Korean in his mid-twenties committed two separate sexual assaults of Korean women in the Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park area of Los Angeles. In both assaults, the suspect drove his car (described as a black mid-size Japanese-made car) up to unsuspecting women in their vehicles and flagged them down for some sort of assistance. Once the female victims stopped their vehicles, the suspect would approach the women or lure them into his vehicle where he sexually assaulted them.
Witness information regarding the suspect’s car and description led Wilshire officers to the home of 29 year old James Lee of Los Angeles who has been identified as the assailant in these crimes. Mr. Lee was arrested at approximately 8:30 a.m. only five hours after he assaulted his second victim.
Wilshire Detectives fear there may be additional victims, most probably Korean woman living in the Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park area that may have been approached or assaulted by the suspect. Detectives are asking the public to provide any information they may have regarding the crimes or additional victims.
A Korean-speaking LAPD officer can be provided for witnesses or victims through Wilshire Division’s Major Assault Crimes Detectives at 213-847-3994, or at Media Relations Section through Officer Jason Lee at 213-485-3586.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.