Kids interrupted attempted sex assault on mother in Little Village, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police are investigating a home invasion and attempted sexual assault in the city's Little Village neighborhood.

Police said the attack happened in the 2900-block of W. 25th Street Thursday around 4:40 a.m. A man allegedly entered the middle floor of a three-flat through a window and attacked a female victim while threatening to sexually assault her. The 28-year-old victim spoke to Eyewitness News, but asked that her face not be shown.

"When he threw me on the bed, I fell on top of my baby who is only 3 months old," the victim said in Spanish.

Police say the attacker fled when the woman's four young children - ages 4, 3, 18 months and 3 months - woke up and interrupted the assault.

"It happened in the same building where we live. Everybody is kind of in shock," said Anastacio Duarte, building resident.

Minutes before the attack, the victim's husband had left for work. She says the attacker punched her in the face and choked her.

"My children awoke with the screams and came to the door of my room and saw him hitting me," the victim said.

"The kids wake up and start crying and screaming. Otherwise, who knows what was going to happen, with the kids or with her?" said Duarte.

As the attacker ran, the victim screamed for help. Her friend Patricia Pereda was in the home next door.

"I saw the lady. She needs help. 'Please, I need help. Somebody's in my house. I need help,'" Pereda said. "Go to the other window, and I saw the guy run."

Neighbors say this is a block filled with long-time residents where everyone knows each other, and there's a school and a Boys & Girls Club nearby. There's been gang activity in the neighborhood, but they say this crime is unusual.

"If anybody in the neighborhood, we'll find out who it is. And we will turn him into the cops. Period," said William Rodriguez, a neighbor.

The suspect described by police as Hispanic, 29 to 30 years old, 5'7", 130 pounds, and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black gym shoes.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Chicago police at 312-747-8380.