A northern Virginia man raped a woman at his workplace last week and attempted to sexually assault a student on a college campus the next day, according to Fairfax County police.
Police said Kevin Lopez Altan, 24, of Annandale, showed up at the Annandale store before it opened Wednesday and detained a 59-year-old woman.
“He made multiple efforts to get inside,” Chief Kevin Davis said. “Although he was thwarted by the victim the first few times, he then managed to get inside the store, where he spent the next several hours attacking him again and again. ”
The victim eventually ran away and called police. Her attacker had disappeared by the time police arrived, but he left behind evidence, including her fingerprints.
Fairfax County detectives investigated López-Altan as a suspect and learned they were not alone in their search for him.
“The Northern Virginia Community College Police Department has been working on a separate attack on a different victim since Thursday night,” said Fairfax County Police Lt. Daniel Spital. “This victim was a student.”
Police said the 20-year-old woman was able to fight off her attacker with the help of passersby.
The campus police officer had previously had contact with the suspect when he was a Fairfax County sheriff's deputy. He identified himself to officers based on the tattoo and the unusual way the suspect's fingers rubbed.
“Our common perpetrator is a horrible 23-year-old man,” Davis said.
Police also knew that López-Altan liked to hang out at various shopping centers in Annandale. They found him at the Heritage Center on Friday afternoon and arrested him.
“We believe he absolutely, definitely would have hit it again,” Davis said. “We know that from how he interacted with detectives. We know that from his demeanor and his nature.”
López-Altan is charged with 10 felonies, including three counts of rape, three counts of forcible sodomy, and three counts of kidnapping for corrupt purposes. He is being held without bond.
Police fear there may be other victims who have not reported López-Altan.
