"He was going to take her life:" Search is on for suspect who assaulted young girl

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police are investigating the sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl on the city's south side early Tuesday, December 16th. It's a horrific crime, but could have been worse had two very brave women not stepped in.

Wendy Diaz says she will never forget the screams that came from the street Tuesday morning.

"She was holding her book bag, screaming and crying," said Diaz.

Officials say the girl was approached around 8:45 a.m. by a suspect and pulled into the back yard of a home near S. 15th Place and W. Orchard Street. That's where she was sexually assaulted. Witnesses say the suspect even threatened to kill the girl before forcing himself on her.

"He was going to take her life.  He told her he was going to kill her," said Diaz.

Diaz says she ran toward the man screaming -- and he took off toward Greenfield Ave. She ran so fast, Diaz later had to go to the hospital with a knee injury. The incident has left nearly everyone on the block in tears.

"Oh my god, a little girl getting raped. So she..." said one woman who did not want to be identified. "I was angry.  I was, it was scary.  I know that little girl was really scared."

Diaz and several neighbors got a good look at the suspect. Officials say he is described as a black or Hispanic male in his late teens, 5’11”, 300 lbs., with a dark complexion. He was wearing a bright red baseball cap, a dark-hooded jacket and dark pants.

Anyone with information should call Milwaukee Police Sensitive Crimes at 414-935-7411.