S.F. police seek attacker of 77-year-old woman in Chinatown

Police in San Francisco searching for an assault suspect who attacked a 77-year-old woman (pictured here) in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood May 10. Police in San Francisco searching for an assault suspect who attacked a 77-year-old woman (pictured here) in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood May 10. Photo: Courtesy / San Francisco Police Department Photo: Courtesy / San Francisco Police Department Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close S.F. police seek attacker of 77-year-old woman in Chinatown 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

San Francisco police are hoping the public will help them identify a woman who investigators believe randomly attacked a 77-year-old woman in broad daylight on Mother’s Day, leaving her in critical condition.

The incident happened between noon and 2:30 p.m. May 10, police spokeswoman Officer Grace Gatpandan said, after the victim got off a bus in Chinatown, possibly on Stockton Street.

The victim was reportedly struck by a female assailant at least twice in the head. Gatpandan said a Good Samaritan came to her aid, helping her move away from the side of the bus to a seated position on the curb.

Nothing was stolen, police said. It was unclear how the victim got to the hospital, but she remained in critical condition Wednesday.

The precise location of the attack was unclear, Gatpandan said, but the victim was a frequent rider on the 2-Clement, 3-Jackson, 30-Stockton and 45-Union/Stockton Muni lines, often using buses to travel between Japantown and Chinatown.

Investigators are interested in talking to anyone who may have seen the victim that day, especially the Good Samaritan who helped her, Gatpandan said.

She urged anyone with information to call the anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or contact Sgt. Trevor Kelly at Trevor.Kelly@sfgov.org.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale