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Virginia woman followed home from MGM National Harbor, attacked outside her house
A Virginia woman was allegedly followed home from the MGM National Harbor Casino and assaulted outside her home. Police say they have as suspect in custody. FOX 5's Lili Zheng has the story.
BAILEY'S CROSSROADS, Va. - Authorities arrested a man they say attacked a Virginia woman outside her house after he followed her home from the MGM National Harbor.
Police say the victim was leaving the hotel casino in Oxon Hill just after midnight on December 8 when she was approached by a man identified by investigators as 29-year-old Antiero Ebai Menyoli.
Officers say Menyoli approached the woman and briefly spoke with her in the parking lot before she got into her vehicle and started for home on Poplar Lane near Bailey's Crossroads.
Antiero Ebai Menyoli (Fairfax County Police Department)
The woman later told investigators that she suspected she was being followed by the man from the parking lot and tried to lose the vehicle as she drove. She also told police that while driving, she noticed a vehicle was following her due to one headlight being brighter than the other.
She arrived at her home and was walking to her door, when police say Menyoli appeared and grabbed her from behind. The woman was able to fight off Menyoli's attack and run inside to safety. Officers said Menyoli then smashed a glass window panel in her door and tried to get inside. When he couldn't, he fled the scene, police said.
Sgt. Jacob Pearce with the Fairfax County Police Department told FOX 5: "Physically, she’s [victim] okay, but I’m sure after an event like this, there’s going to be some recovery time. We’re hoping she can recover and she has victim service specialists assigned to her as well to help her through, not only the recovery process but through the courts and everything like that," Sgt. Pearce said. "We are encouraging people who leave locations, not just MGM…but banks, jewelry stores…things like that, where you’re going to leave a location where you have a large amount of currency or some high-value items, just be extra aware of your surroundings and vigilant."
Detectives identified Menyoli after reviewing surveillance footage. They said he and the victim were not known to each other. He was taken into custody on Dec. 12 in Prince George's County and faces burglary, assault, and destruction of property charges. He will be extradited to Fairfax County.
FOX 5 spoke to a man named Tyler Jeffries of Washington, D.C. who visits MGM often. He said he’s never felt unsafe leaving there.
"We’ve always had a good time at MGM, and I liken it to a Vegas-quality casino," Jeffries said. "I think the security detail there that I’ve seen, they’re trying their best."
In October, there was a similar incident, according to Fairfax County police.
In the October incident, a man reported coming home from MGM and then being robbed at gunpoint.
Fairfax County police said Thursday, there is no specific link between the most recent case and the October incident.
For the October incident, they are still investigating leads.
MGM National Harbor was also the site of an attempted armed carjacking in one of their garages.
An MGM spokesperson did not directly answer questions about safety measures or protocols in place but did refer FOX 5 to police.
Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the incident, or who may have had unwanted contact with Menyoli to call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6.