Video may help find suspect in UW assault

Seattle police investigators have obtained video evidence they hope will help identify the man who attacked a University of Washington student near campus, Chief Gil Kerlikowske said Thursday.

Early on Jan. 8, the 22-year- old victim was parking her car north of campus when someone jumped her and beat her with a hammer. Her attacker apparently was trying to steal her car. He failed, but left her so severely injured that she couldn't speak to detectives for days.

"I can tell you we have some video evidence that we're trying to enhance now from the UW case," Kerlikowske told reporters.

He didn't elaborate on where police obtained the video, but said police think the attack had no connection to the New Year's Eve slaying of Capitol Hill resident Shannon Harps.

"There are vastly different pieces of information about the type of crime," Kerlikoske said.

The attacker was described as white, 20 to 30 years old, with short, possibly brown hair. He was 5 feet, 8 inches to 6 feet tall, with an average build. Police think he was clean-shaven and may have been wearing a dark, baggy jacket, baggy jeans and a light-colored hat or other head covering.

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.