Video shows man repeatedly punching woman in fitness club parking lot
Rochester police say man ran up behind victim
Rochester police say man ran up behind victim
Rochester police say man ran up behind victim
Shocking video released by Rochester police Tuesday shows the violent assault of a young woman walking to her car after work.
Police said Erin McCarthy, 18, was struck 39 times outside the Planet Fitness gym.
“There's a bunch of bumps on my head,” McCarthy said. “There's bumps on the back of my head. It was all in the back of my head at first. And then I have this black eye.”
The video shows the man approach as McCarthy goes to put her bag in the passenger side of her car, just after her shift ended at the fitness center around 10 p.m. on June 12.
“I walked right by him and I didn't think anything of it,” she said. “I didn't even recognize him, but he just came up from behind me and punched me."
"It was pretty violent video, pretty graphic," Rochester police Capt. Jason Thomas said.
Rochester police stopped the video after the first punch, but said the man knocked her to the ground.
“I thought that I hit him, but it was just my hand hitting the ground,” McCarthy said. “I had no idea until I watched the video – I had no idea. I didn't even know he hit me 39 times – 39! Like, why? Just why?”
Police believe her assailant was driving a newer Ford Fusion.
McCarthy said the man left without stealing or saying anything. She has no idea why she was targeted.
“He just wanted to beat my head in for some reason,” she said.
“We are investigating a couple of leads we've had so far,” Thomas said. “We don't believe it's a random act, but it's still actively being investigated.”
McCarthy said another surveillance camera in the plaza shows the suspect parked there during her entire eight-hour shift.
“It couldn't be random if he waited there that long,” she said. “I just don't know who it could be.”
McCarthy said she's looking to change to an earlier shift, but doesn't want to feel afraid being alone in parking lots.
A representative for Planet Fitness said the company is working with police in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Porfido at the Rochester Police Department at 603-330-7128. Anonymous tips can be left with the Rochester Crime Line at 603-335-6500.