Suspect in Hammer Attack Shown in New Police Sketch

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Image: Sketch of assault suspect (Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office); surveillance photos of assault suspect (Leesburg Police Department).

The Leesburg police released a sketch Thursday of the suspect who struck an 18-year-old on Tuesday evening with a hammer at a local outlet mall.

The teenager, an employee at a store in Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, remains hospitalized at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, the police said. They said they recovered the hammer at the scene of the assault.

The suspect is described as a white man in his early 20s, 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 155 to 165 pounds. He was wearing sunglasses, tan shorts, dark socks, brown shoes, a green and orange plaid shirt, and a green and white hat with a white emblem on the front.

The sketch was drawn by an officer with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Police officers responded at 6:34 p.m. Tuesday to the report of an assault at the Polo Ralph Lauren Store, in the outlet mall at 241 Fort Evans Road NE, according to a police report.

The employee was assisting the suspect with a clothing purchase and escorting him to a fitting room when he was struck in the neck by the suspect, who was wielding a hammer, the police said.

The claw end of the hammer hit the side of the victim’s neck, causing puncture wounds. After striking the victim, the suspect fled the store and ran towards the parking lot, the police said.

The Leesburg Police Department is asking that anyone who has any information or may have witnessed this assault to contact them immediately at (703) 771-4500. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the Leesburg Crime Line at (703) 443-TIPS (8477).

The department can also receive information from the public using a program called TIPSUBMIT. Tips about a specific crime or criminal activity can be sent by text, email or smartphone. Simply Text LPDTIP plus your message to 274637.