Naked man punched 3-year-old, tried to rape woman at her LA home, police say

On February 27, 2025, a violent incident unfolded in the Sawtelle neighborhood of West Los Angeles, leading to the arrest of 33-year-old Ishmail Bangura.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Bangura, who was nude during the attacks, is accused of two separate assaults that day.

The sequence began around 12:30 p.m. when Bangura allegedly entered an apartment complex near the 2400 block of Barry Avenue and struck a 3-year-old girl.

The specifics of this initial assault-whether it was targeted or random-remain unclear, but it's noted as a felony count of child abuse under conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

Shortly after, Bangura reportedly broke into the nearby home of a 63-year-old woman, Cherie Harter. Inside, he put her in a headlock, beat her, and threatened to rape and kill her. Harter managed to escape outside, but Bangura pursued, pinned her to the ground face-down, and continued his threats, attempting to muffle her screams by shoving a lime into her mouth.

Construction workers and bystanders, including contractor Rick Dreyfus and his crew working nearby, heard Harter's cries and intervened. They cornered Bangura until LAPD officers arrived and arrested him. Harter sustained significant injuries-bruised arms and a forehead wound requiring ten stitches-while the toddler's condition hasn't been detailed publicly beyond the initial strike.

Bangura was arraigned on March 5, 2025, at the Airport Courthouse, facing two felony charges: assault with intent to commit forcible rape during a first-degree residential burglary, and child abuse. Additional allegations include inflicting great bodily injury, high cruelty, victim vulnerability, and posing a serious societal danger, which could enhance sentencing. He pleaded not guilty, with bail set at $2 million after prosecutors' preventative detention request was denied. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison plus 13 years and lifelong sex offender registration. His next hearing is April 16, 2025.

The incident's brazenness-daylight, nude assailant, rapid escalation-shocked the community, with District Attorney Nathan Hochman calling it "beyond reprehensible."

Posts on X and news reports (e.g., CBS Los Angeles) speculated Bangura was "drug-crazed," though no official toxicology confirmation exists as of March 7, 2025.