The attack happened around 2 a.m. Monday inside the woman's apartment building in the Westchester Square section.
Authorities said the victim had entered the elevator when the suspect attacked.
It appears the victim thought she was being followed and tried to avoid the suspect. Once she got in the elevator, the suspect followed her. But when she tried to exit, police said he pulled her back and raped her. Surveillance video also captured the suspect punching the woman in the face and knocking her to the ground.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 20s, about 5-foot-7, wearing a black baseball cap, black T-shirt with a white design on the rear, dark jeans and dark shoes.
The suspect entered the building wearing the dark shirt with a white design on the back and left the location wearing a dark shirt with the number 00 on the back.
The condition of the woman was not known, but she remained in the hospital on Monday afternoon.
Residents of the building say the victim lives alone, and it's not uncommon to see her out late at night. The horrible nature of the attack has broken the feeling of security residents have had for a long time. Now they are on the lookout for anything suspicious.
Anyone with information is asked to call crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
