Sexual assault at Rocky Mount walking trail causes safety concerns for women

A woman was sexually assaulted and strangled early Saturday morning on a walking trail at the city’s sports complex, according to officials.

Women who frequently exercise on the trail say after the incident, they have doubts about how safe the area is for them.

“I’m a little bit torn as to whether or not I’m going to go back out there,” Nicole Sellers said.

Before dawn on Saturday morning, police said a woman was walking on a trail at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex when she was sexually assaulted.

Rocky Mount police later arrested 18-year-old Kylik Mabry, charging him with second-degree rape, strangulation, and common law robbery.

“It was very scary and very sad to hear about it,” Sellers said.

Women who live in the area told WRAL News that the trail was a popular place to walk and run, but many of them had been taking safety precautions there even before Saturday’s incident.

“I’m usually pretty cautious,” Sellers said. “I take pepper spray, I usually always try to walk or run near other people.”

Rocky Mount 19-year-old Logan L. also said that in the past she wouldn’t run at the sports complex without arming herself with either a knife or pepper spray.

“It’s every girl’s worst nightmare,” she told WRAL News.

Rocky Mount police said Saturday’s incident was the first time that a sexual assault had been reported at the sports complex.

Women who already took precautions before the incident said there wasn’t much more they could do to feel secure.

“You want to believe that it’s safe and it’s a safe area, but you have to really be smart,” Sellers said. “And think about what could happen.”

Rocky Mount police said Mabry was due in court on June 29.