Virginia man in custody following 'brutal, horrifying' attacks on 2 women: police

A suspect is in custody for the "brutal and horrifying" rapes of two northern Virginia women, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. 

Police announced on Monday that Kevin Lopez-Altan, 24, of Annandale, was arrested in connection to an abduction and sexual assault that happened in an Annandale business.

Lopez-Altan is accused of sexually assaulting a 59-year-old woman at her own business in Annandale and a 20-year-old woman on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College, according to police. 

On March 20, officers reported they responded to a business in Annandale for an abduction and sexual assault. An employee, an adult female, reported a Hispanic man in his 20 to 30s attempting to walk into the business around 11:00 a.m., but the suspect was denied entry at that time.

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An Annandale man is in custody for the "brutal and horrifying" rapes of two northern Virginia women, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on Monday.  (Fairfax County Police Department)

The victim told police the suspect attempted to walk into the business again approximately ten minutes later and was once again denied entry. On the suspect’s third attempt, police reported he forced his way into the business where he physically and sexually assaulted the victim. The victim was eventually able to escape and call 911.

Detectives immediately launched an investigation into the attack and were able to collect an "enormous" amount of evidence. 

As they investigated, detectives learned that another sexual assault had been reported at Northern Virginia Community College on Thursday. The victim was attacked but was able to fight the man off and make a run for it. 

During a press conference, police said that Lopez-Altan does have a criminal history and is known to police. The Northern Virginia Community College officer who was able to quickly identify the suspect had interactions with him previously while working as a sheriff's deputy in the area. 

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Fairfax County Police said Lopez-Altan is accused of sexually assaulting a 59-year-old woman at her own business in Annandale and a 20-year-old woman on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College.  (Fairfax County Police Department)

"He was certainly known to law enforcement but not extensively," Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said. "So, it can't go unnoted that the Northern Virginia Community College police officer, based on his remembrance of this perpetrator when he was employed as a deputy sheriff, was absolutely instrumental in breaking this case wide open." 

Chief Davis said the case is disturbing and the nature of the crimes is "horrendous."

"We believe he absolutely, positively would have struck again. We know that from the way he interacted with our detectives. We know that from his demeanor, his disposition. I would be shocked if there aren't other victims that he's left in his wake and that's why we want to intentionally solicit any information about him from previous victims or people who know him in the community," said Davis. "These two acts were so brazen, so bold, so daring, that it would be hard for me to believe that he hasn't struck before." 

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On Saturday, detectives charged Lopez-Altan with a total of ten felony charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, abduction with intent to defile, burglary, and strangulation. 

"He is evil personified. He’s brutal in his attacks on women. He’s relentless in his attacks on women. And the fact that we were able to literally stop him from offending again and again and again is something that local law enforcement is tasked with, and we are proud that we were able to put him in handcuffs, but we can’t begin to explain criminal misconduct like his. Evil, criminal misconduct." Davis said. "What he did was unspeakable." 

Police said Lopez-Altan is being held on no bond.

"We took a monstrous predator off the street. If you want to see pure evil, take a look at that picture of Kevin Lopez-Altan," Davis said. 

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Police added that, so far, it appears Lopez-Altan chose his victims at random. They said that while there is no indication at this time that he has additional victims, anyone with information should contact Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131.