SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Police Department arrested a man accused of raping an 8-year-old girl before her grandfather chased him away earlier this month, according to authorities.
Dupree Kenneth Hornsby, 24, is accused of breaking into the family’s home on Aug. 6 about 7:30 a.m. Upon entering the residence he found the little girl playing in her room, at which point he sexually assaulted her, according to the district attorney’s office.
The child was able to flee when the accused rapist finished, running to her grandfather for help. Hence, he chased the perpetrator from their home. Responding officers were able to locate the suspect nearby less than two hours later, according to The Mercury News.
“This nightmare of a crime has shaken all of us,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in an Aug. 10 statement. “The alert police officer who saw and arrested this predator just hours later, and before anyone else was hurt, is a credit to the badge and our community.”
The San Jose Police Department confirmed that Hornsby has no ties to the youngster or her family, Fox News reported.
The girl was interviewed by experts in the field of child victimization and treated for injuries at the District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Center.
The suspect was arraigned on Tuesday and faces life in prison if convicted.
