Harrisburg school officials are taking extra security measures after a 14-year-old girl was raped on her way to school last week.
The girl was walking alone to John Harris High School Friday morning along the 2300 block of Market Street. Police say she was ambushed, choked from behind and severely beaten.
Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter says, he believes the man had intentions of killing her. Chief Carter visited the young girl and says she’s staying strong but it will be a slow recovery.
Officials held a news conference inside City Hall Monday afternoon, outlining public safety initiatives.
“Establishing a community service officer’s program in which basically these would not be uniform police officers, they would not carry weapons but they would receive training and coordination from the Harrisburg Police Department,” said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
They’ll also increase police presence at all Harrisburg schools, until the suspect is caught. Officials are working on a plan to provide additional means of transportation for students and are encouraging them to walk in groups.
Police say they’re searching for a black man, with gray and black facial hair across his jaw. He was wearing black and red Michael Jordan sneakers and a black baseball hat with a plastic snap closure.
Harrisburg Police are offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest.
