8-Year-Old Girl Fights Off Assailant Who Entered Her Bedroom in the Middle of the Night: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

A photo of Thomas Gallegos from the Sterling Police Department.Photo:Sterling Police Dept

Sterling Police Dept

An 8-year-old girl in Colorado is safe after fighting off an assailant in her bedroom and a suspect in the incident has been charged, according to police.

The Sterling Police Department shared in apress releasethat it was investigating an “attempted child abduction” in which an “unknown male” entered the unidentified 8-year-old girl’s bedroom and “attacked” her. Police arrived on the scene at around 2:30 a.m. local time on Oct. 15, an hour after it happened.

In anupdate, police noted that the little girl “fought with the assailant,” who eventually “fled” the scene “on foot,” before she informed her parents and they called 911. Police noted that the suspect had been wearing a dark hoodie and pants at the time.

After gathering “digital, forensic and physical evidence” police said on Saturday, Oct. 19 that they identified the suspect and arrested Thomas Gallegos, 56, on charges of first degree burglary, second degree assault, attempted second degree kidnapping, third degree assault and child abuse.

The girl had cuts and bruises following the incident but did not have any serious injuries,CBS Newsreported.

Police noted that the assailant might have entered the home from the back door, which may have been left unlocked at the time, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. local time.

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The assailant also took the child’s phone, which investigators used to help identify the suspect, per KUSA. The phone was eventually discovered dumped near Interstate 76, west of Sterling, per CBS News.

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office and Sterling Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for information on the incident.

Gallegos' next court date is scheduled for Nov. 4, according to the outlet.

source: people.com