19-year-old attacked by masked gunman on popular metro walking trail, police say

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police say a 19-year-old woman was sexually assaulted when she went for a morning walk.

They say the woman was walking along the Riverwalk Trail between Riverside Road and Dogwood Road just before 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

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The woman said she was walking down the paved path when a man wearing dark clothing and a surgical mask walked up behind her and said he had a gun. He then forced her into the woods where he sexually assaulted her.

It’s unclear if the man actually had a weapon.

Detectives have identified a person of interest and are speaking with him, but say it is still in the preliminary stages.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones spoke with people who use the trail who were shocked by such an act of violence.

“It seems like the type of area where nothing like that would ever happen,” said Iyana Wonguas.

“Assaulted at 8 a.m. in the morning. That’s unheard of, and that’s really scary that somebody could just be out here waiting and then pop out. Like okay, there are no cars around, nobody’s around,” Austin McLinn said.

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Anyone with details that could assist investigators should contact Roswell police at 770-640-4100.

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