Fairfax County police established an internal task force to find the man suspected of slashing several young women’s buttocks at malls and retail stores.
Coordinating the investigation is critical due to the volume of leads and calls from the public about the case, police said. The task force efforts include increased police presence in malls and shopping centers in the county.
A total of nine incidents have been reported since February, police said. The most recent reported slashing was at the Forever 21 store in the Fair Oaks Mall on July 25. Police linked that with four prior incidents, and four more women have come forward since.
Police released this list of attacks:
- July 25, Fair Oaks Mall, Forever 21
- June 20, Greenbriar Shopping Center, Marshalls
- June 18, Tysons Corner Mall, H&M
- June 8, Fairfax Towne Center, T.J. Maxx
- May 16, Fair Oaks Mall, Ann Taylor
- March 11, Tysons Corner Center, H&M
- February 14, Fair Oaks Mall, near Champps
- February, Fair Oaks Mall (no other info available)
- February, Fair Oaks Mall, Forever 21(no other info available)
Most of the slashings have followed a distraction, usually clothing being knocked over. The culprit cuts a woman in her late teens or early 20s with a razor box cutter and calmly walks away without drawing attention. The victims feel a pinch but usually don't realize right away that they've been slashed.
No serious injuries have been reported, though one victim said she was given the option to get stitches but that they would leave a worse scar than the permanent one she has now.
Fairfax County police also met with law enforcement in neighboring jurisdictions Friday morning to share information and raise awareness about the case, though there are no reports of attacks outside Fairfax County.
Police described the slasher as a heavyset Hispanic man in his late 20s and about 5-feet-6-inches tall.
Police hope someone will be able to identify the slasher from the surveillance video and images. Anyone who thinks they know who the man is or has information about the case should call police at 703-691-2131 or send a tip to Crime Solvers by phone at 866-411-TIPS (8477), by texting “TIP187” and the tip to CRIMES (274637), or online at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org.
