Dallas Police Say Two Rapes Not Connected

Dallas police announced Tuesday they are looking for two rapists, instead of one, in connection with two brutal attacks in the past two weeks.

The first attack occurred on Aug. 31 at about 10 a.m. in the 5400 block of Gaston Avenue. The second occurred Sept. 7 at about 6:45 p.m. in the 5800 block of Martel Avenue.

In both cases, officers said the attacker forced his way into a woman’s home at gunpoint and then sexually assaulted her.

Because the attacks were so similar, officers initially thought it was possible they were looking for just one attacker, but on Tuesday said they are searching for two people.

The Aug. 31 attacker is described as a 50-year-old Latino man who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 210 pounds and has short, gray hair and a salt-and-pepper mustache. Officers said they believe he has a tattoo of flames on his left wrist. He was wearing a red baseball cap with the word “fire” written in red, a red-and-black, long-sleeved plaid shirt, khaki pants and tan boots.

The man from the Sept. 7 attack is described as a 21-year-old Latino man whose name possibly is Jose. Officers said he’s about 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds and is skinny with spiked black hair, brown eyes and tattoos on his right arm. He was wearing shiny black shoes, a green shirt, blue jeans and large diamond earrings.

Officers are encouraging people to positively identify anyone knocking on their door before opening the door and to call 911 if there is any suspicious activity.