A 19-year-old man faces allegations of sexually assaulting a student in a bathroom at a high school in North Texas after reportedly entering the campus without permission, according to police.
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a report of sexual assault was made at Horn High School in Mesquite, as stated in a news release from the Mesquite police.
Authorities discovered that a high school student opened an outside door, enabling the suspect to evade normal security measures, according to police.
After entering the building, the suspect located the victim, identified by police as a girl he was familiar with. A man assaulted her and used a weapon to compel her into the bathroom, where the sexual assault occurred, as stated in the release.
According to a statement from school district officials, a teacher spotted the suspect in a hallway following the assault and attempted to identify him, but he fled the building. A school resource officer was informed about the situation by the teacher.
The individual in question is not enrolled at Horn High School. Authorities have confirmed the identity as Synniaz Elijah. On Tuesday at approximately 9:45 p.m., police in Mesquite executed a search warrant at a residence in Seagoville, leading to the suspect’s arrest. Elijah is charged with aggravated sexual assault, according to police.