STE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE - A 21-year-old female student is in hospital after she was attacked on campus at John Abbott College in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Tuesday night.
Graphic design student Vina Jayphait was attacked from behind as she was walking from the college to the parking lot adjacent to the arena. She was struck repeatedly to the back of the head, and also suffered a broken finger trying to fend off her assailant. She is in hospital and will undergo reconstructive surgery on Friday.
Police are looking for a 5-foot-10 white male who is about 25 years-old. The suspect had a partial beard and was wearing a short black jacket and a black tuque.
Jayphait's sister Nila said she's distraught about the incident and is concerned about safety on campus.
"I hope that the John Abbott College will do something to make the place more safer for the students that go there," she said.
John Abbott College said this busy path is lit indirectly from the lighting in the parking lot, and officials stress that the campus is safe and well monitored by several security vehicles and walking patrols.
There are also emergency phones throughout the campus that serve as a direct intercom to security.
The young woman returned to one of the buildings for help following the attack.
"She was able to get back to (the) Penfield (building) and get help right away. There was a teacher there, so they called 9-1-1 and they called security," said John Abbott communications officer Debbie Cribb.
Cribb said campus security is reviewing the footage from video cameras to see if there are any clues in the attack.
Police are asking any witnesses to this attack to step forward.
