SAN DIEGO–Authorities are asking the public’s assistance in seeking the identity of a man who robbed and violently sexually assaulted a woman in her University City apartment last Saturday evening.

On August 13 at approximately 10:30 p.m., the woman, in her 20s, was walking through a well-lit parking structure toward her residence in the Venetian Apartments in the 3900 block of Nobel Drive. Approximately halfway through the parking structure, the victim saw that she was being followed by an unidentified black male, San Diego Police Lt. Paul Phillips said.

The man followed the woman to her apartment. As she unlocked her door, the suspect knocked her to the ground. He then displayed a black handgun and told the victim to give him her money.  The victim complied. The man began to choke the woman and he forced her into her apartment. He sexually assaulted her prior to fleeing in an unknown direction.

The suspect is described as a black male approximately 25 to 30-years-old,  five feet, nine to five feet, eleven inches tall, weight 180 pounds with a medium or athletic build. The suspect had short black hair and a short black beard. The suspect was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray shorts with red stripes on the sides and black sneakers. He was carrying a black backpack.

Lt. Phillips said the woman was severely beaten which resulted in facial fractures to her face. She is recovering at a local hospital.

“This is a very violent individual,” said Lt. Phillips. “We are putting all of our resources toward this one as you can imagine.”

The victim was dropped off near her apartment after a barbecue down near the beach. The area is described as safe and well-lit, Lt. Phillips said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the San Diego Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit at 619-531-2210. For those who wish to remain anonymous, citizens can additionally call the CrimeStoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477.