Reported by Mark Jenkins
ORLANDO -- A would-be rape victim was able to fight off her attacker with a box cutter she had in her pocket.
Investigators said a woman was attacked around midnight Sunday at a 7-Eleven at Old Cheney Highway and North Semoran Boulevard.
Authorities would not say whether the woman, 35, was an employee at the store. They said she was near a fence outside, when a man attacked her from behind.
The man reportedly pushed the woman against the fence and tried to rape her, but she was able to fight back with a box cutter.
Her defense, along with approaching headlights, prompted the attacker to jump the fence and take off on foot.
Neighboring business owners, including Guillermo Torres, said they were stunned it happened in their area.
“People get scared if that’s going on around here,” Torres told News 13. “Maybe the police department will catch him. Again, the 7-Eleven is a checkpoint for the police department, so that’s just crazy.”
Authorities used K-9 units to track the suspect, but police dogs lost his scent one block away from the store.
Officials said the victim was obviously shaken, but neither she, nor the suspect, were injured.
Investigators said they are trying to develop a composite sketch and get surveillance video from the 7-Eleven in hopes of tracking down the suspect.
Authorities described the man as black or Hispanic, wearing a black stocking cap, with gold or silver teeth.
If you have any information in the case, call CrimeLine at (800) 423-TIPS.
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