University Of La Verne Student Reports Being Attacked By Masked Man

LA VERNE (CBSLA) – A University of La Verne student who reported being assaulted on campus by a masked man Tuesday afternoon is the same woman who allegedly discovered a smoking backpack in her car back in March, authorities confirmed to CBS2.

According to La Verne police, the victim was discovered lying on the ground in the stairwell of a campus residence hall at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday.

She told the person who found her that she had been physically assaulted by a man in a ski mask, police said.

Paramedics responded, but the student declined medical treatment.

Prior to the attack, the victim had reported receiving threats that were being investigated by police. The nature of the threats were not confirmed.

On March 1, classes were canceled at the university after a student found a backpack on fire in her car parked in a dorm lot. Police told CBS2 Tuesday that the student who found the backpack is the same woman who was found assaulted Tuesday.

At the time of that incident, the school disclosed that there had been several purported threats posted to social media against a group of student activists. Police have not confirmed if the smoking backpack or Tuesday's assault are linked to those threats.

There was no immediate description of a suspect or any surveillance video.