Woman held at gunpoint, assaulted during Brooklyn Park home invasion; suspect not found, police say
Authorities say an armed home invasion in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Friday morning prompted a "significant police presence" and "large-scale search," but the suspect was not found.
According to the Brooklyn Park Police Department, a man entered a home on the 7600 block of Hampshire Avenue North, near the intersection of Brooklyn Boulevard and Hampshire Avenue North, and held a woman at gunpoint "for a brief period." Police later said he sexually assaulted the woman and demanded money from her.
When WCCO visited the complex to get video and talk with neighbors, the victim approached our news crew and wanted to share her story.
Carol said it was just before 5 a.m. when she woke up to a man standing in her bedroom with a gun. Her three children were asleep across the hall.
"I'm like, 'Please, please don't do this. I don't have money. I don't have anything," Carol said, calling it the most terrifying five minutes of her life. "I still picture him and I picture the gun [pointed] in my head, I mean point blank."
Carol said he tied up her mouth and hands using an ACE wrap he found in a drawer.
When she didn't give him money, he started pulling down her nightgown and groping her chest. Despite her hands being tied, Carol said she was able to grab the gun he put into his pants pocket.
"He's trying to do all that extra stuff, raising my leg ... and [he's] like, 'Let go of me, let go of my pants.' And I'm like, 'No, no, no,'" Carol said.
The struggle spilled into the hallway before the man took off, allowing Carol to run into her kids' bedroom and get them to call 911.
Police from Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center and Crystal responded.
"This type of circumstance is very rare and very unusual," said Commander Matt Rabe of the Brooklyn Park Police Department. "It's taken very, very seriously. It's scary."
He said officers searched a wide area with the help of K-9s but couldn't find the man. They're asking neighbors to check their surveillance cameras and look for discarded clothing around their homes. Carol said the man was wearing a black hoodie and grey sweatpants. He also had black-framed prescription glasses. She couldn't make out his hair because the hoodie's drawstring was pulled tight around his chin.
Although there haven't been reports of similar home invasions recently, Rabe said, "We will be looking into anything that could be related both in Brooklyn Park or any surrounding agencies or areas as well."
Despite the mental trauma, sexual assault and fight over the gun, Carol wasn't seriously hurt. She was grateful the man never fired his gun, but still wants him brought to justice.
"Whoever he is, wherever he is, I pray that he will be caught ASAP," Carol said.
The invasion is being investigated. Police are asking anyone who lives nearby to check their cameras and property for evidence of the suspect.
Sexual Assault Resources
- (SOS – Ramsey County)
- Sexual Violence Center (SVC – Hennepin County)
- Aurora Center (U of MN)
- 360 Communities (Dakota County)
- Hope Center (Rice County)
- Canvas Health (Washington County)
- Alexandra House (Anoka County)
General Sites for information related to sexual assault and resources throughout Minnesota:
General Sexual Assault Websites:
