Bellevue police have issued a public warning after a man was arrested and charged with child molestation and voyeurism, accused of several inappropriate interactions with children inside the Target store at Factoria Mall. Investigators say they believe more victims may be out there and are urging anyone affected to come forward.
According to police, the alarm was first raised by Target's own loss prevention team, who spotted the man recording children inside the store. That tip set off an investigation that quickly grew as detectives reviewed security footage from the location.
Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Eunice Nuru, a Kent resident. Officers say security video showed him appearing to stalk young victims inside the store for around 45 minutes before he was stopped, and the case has since moved into the court system.
In court documents, police describe Nuru following numerous female children and young women while allegedly filming them, at times concealing his phone behind a pillar and using a shirt to hide his face. Investigators say the images suggest a deliberate effort to record without being noticed.
Among the alleged targets, police say, were very young children, including what appeared to be a 10-year-old, a girl looking at swimsuits, and a six and eight-year-old. The ages involved have heightened concern among investigators about the scope of the case.
Authorities stress there are still details to confirm and say they are working to get a fuller picture of just how large the case could be. With the possibility of additional victims, Bellevue police are asking the public for help as the investigation continues.