Attacker sought in Murray County

Published 6:29 am Thursday, February 2, 2012

A woman who was walking on the campus of Coker Elementary School in western Murray County after school hours on Tuesday was assaulted by a man who feigned injury to attract her, authorities said.

The woman escaped with minor injuries and was able to call for help, but the man is still being sought, said Sheriff Howard Ensley of the Murray County Sheriff’s Office.

“She was walking around 6 p.m. and a man asked for help close to the wood line,” he said. “Then he attacked her. She received some injuries but they were not serious.”

Ensley said the woman told investigators she ran to the school gym where people were gathered for basketball and they called 911 for her. Deputies arrived and searched the area but were unable to locate the man, he said.

The man was reportedly wearing a watch cap, hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans and was described as being 6 foot tall and weighing about 200 pounds. An ethnic description was not given.

Mike Tuck, the administrative services director for Murray County Schools, said deputies were at the school again on Wednesday morning before classes started.

“They did an early search this (Wednesday) morning,” he said. “I don’t believe there’s any threat to the school, but (the sheriff’s office) will have a heightened presence at the school for awhile.”

Ensley said that presence would be visible especially during times when school is in session and when buses are loading and unloading.

Anyone with information about the attacker is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (706) 695-4592.