Details of the West Elm St. attack – NBC Boston

A 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on her way home from middle school in Brockton, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, police said, adding that officers were already searching for the person responsible on Wednesday.

In a statement released Wednesday by Brockton police announcing their investigation, the school district's superintendent called the incident “deeply concerning.”

“We are working closely with Brockton Police to support the student and family affected by this deeply disturbing incident and will work with police to help identify a suspect,” said Priya Tahiliani, interim superintendent of Brockton Public Schools. “We have notified our school community and encourage students to remain vigilant and report anything they notice to a trusted adult.”

According to police, the West Middle School student was walking home on West Elm Street when she was approached by a man in the driveway of a home near Elmside Road, nearly a mile down the road from the school.

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673and Massachusetts provides this list of statewide resources for victims of sexual assault.

Police did not disclose what happened during the sexual assault, but noted that after a brief struggle, the girl was able to escape and get home. Her attacker, a man in his 20s, was missing two front teeth, wearing a black shirt with multi-colored lettering and gray pants and riding a blue bicycle with white lettering.

Officers assigned to the school were notified of the incident on Wednesday and investigators searched the area. No arrests were announced.