HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 60-year-old woman was attacked moments after entering the women’s restroom in a Hilliard retail store, according to police.
On Sept. 20, the woman entered the At Home store’s restroom, located at 3599 Park Mill Run Drive, where she was attacked by an unknown man. NBC4 obtained audio from a call to police, where a person reported the assailant was waiting inside the women’s bathroom. The suspect was later identified as Mohamed Camara, 26, of Columbus, according to the Hilliard Division of Police.
The woman fought back, getting the attention of her family who ran to her, called 911 and did not let Camara leave until officers arrived, police said.
“This victim did everything right,” Hilliard police wrote in a social media post. “She fought back hard, she loudly called for help, and she’s doing a great job assisting with our investigation.”
Mel Thompson, owner of Hilliard Taekwondo Academy, said as a woman around the same age as the victim, she's angry. She said the incident has not left her mind.
Thompson said it's crucial that individuals are ready to defend themselves at all times.
"If somebody does approach you, that, 'Stop! Back off! You're making me uncomfortable,' you use that," Thompson said. "If somebody does get a hold of you, they get their hands on you, you fight back."
Thompson said the victim did everything she tells individuals to do in her self-defense classes.
"She yelled so people heard her, and she fought back," she said. "She didn't freeze up. She didn't go quiet. She wasn't a submissive victim."
Thompson said you should always keep your head on a swivel.
"Walk confidently, don't look at your phone, pay attention to what's happening around you so that you see if somebody is approaching you," Thompson said. "When you make eye contact with people, they're way less likely to be an attacker because, number one, you look like not a good victim, and you can identify them."
Thompson said she feels passionately that everyone, women and children especially, should know how to defend themselves. She said it's not about being strong, it's about being quick.
She's not against self-defense tools like spray or a sharp object on your keychain, but she does advise that you know how to use them; otherwise, they can be used against you.
"Even something as simple as spray," Thompson said. "People will have mace, but what they don't always realize -- if you're close to your attacker and you spray them, if they're smart, they'll wipe it off their face and in your face."
The Facebook post from police also urged residents to be aware of their surroundings, follow their gut instinct and not be afraid to yell for help.
The department asked anyone who believes they may have information relevant to the case to contact Detective Brandon Long at blong@hilliardohio.gov.
Thompson said money should not be a barrier to feeling safe. She frequently offers free self-defense classes at Hilliard Taekwondo Academy. Details about those get posted on its website and Facebook .
