A Eugene woman has been attacked with acid three times in the past three months, with the latest attack coming on Tuesday morning, police said.
Detectives are investigating the assaults as a possible bias crime.
The woman suffered chemical burns when a man reportedly threw acid on her after she opened her front door at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, police said. The woman believes the person who attacked her was the same one who had previously done so. Police describe the suspect as a young white man wearing a hoodie and black clothing.
In March, the woman was walking her dog when an attacker threw a cup full of acid on her, according to police. She was taken to a hospital with burns. The following month, she told dispatchers someone was attempting to open the door to her home.
The woman also suffered burns in mid-June after a man broke into her home, poured a chemical on her and tried to light her on fire, police said.
Police said the victim reported that the suspect made comments about her ethnicity.
“There is a bias element to it,” Eugene Police spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin said.
The woman has also told police she was attacked last November when a person threw a cup full of glass shards at her while she was walking her dog.
Police have not released the victim’s identity or her ethnicity.
Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call Det. Glenn Gilhuber at 541-682-5569.
–Zaeem Shaikh; mshaikh@oregonian.com; 503-221-8111; @zaeemshake
