Stabbing at Forever 21 Latest in String of Incidents

Police are investigating reports of a man who follows young women in retail stores, cuts them and slips away.

Most recently, officers responded to the Forever 21 store in Fair Oaks Mall on Monday around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a woman who suffered a one and a half inch wound in her buttocks.

The 18-year-old victim was shopping when she noticed clothes that had fallen off of a rack behind her and saw a man bending down to pick them up, police said.

She abruptly felt a sharp pain and considered that one of the hangers had struck her. A short time later, she discovered her denim shorts had been slashed; her buttocks had been cut and were bleeding. Store employees quickly contacted security who summoned police.

Detectives indicate that this attack may be linked to four others that have taken place in Fairfax County retail stores since February. The most recent case occurred in a Marshall’s at Greenbriar Shopping Center on June 20 around 2:45 p.m.

Previous incidents were: Feb. 14 near Champps, Fair Oaks Mall; May 15 at Fair Oaks Mall, Ann Taylor; and June 18, H&M in Tysons Corner Mall.

 In each case, the suspect distracts his victim before cutting them. The victims have all been teen-aged women or in their early 20s.

The suspect is described as hispanic, late 20s, around 5-foot-6 inches tall and heavyset. He wore white shorts and a short-sleeved shirt in the July 25 assault.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.