Robberies raise concerns for campus safety

A recent string of robberies in the VCU area, as well as a non-fatal shooting in Monroe Park, have raised concerns about safety on and around campus. Friday, March 6, a series of four robberies occurred on or near the Monroe Park Campus between midnight and 4 a.m. were done at knife-point. The shooting occurred early on March 8.

According to Richmond Police a man, who is not a VCU student, was shot in the back after a confrontation between two groups in Monroe Park. The victim’s injury is considered non-life threatening. No arrests have been made in this incident.

According to an alert sent out by Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration John M. Bennett, the first robbery on March 6 occurred around the intersection of West Cary and South Laurel Streets at around midnight and involved one student victim. The second robbery occurred around 12:55 a.m. in Monroe Park and involved two students. At 1:05 a.m. two more students were robbed near the Oliver Hall loading dock at Harrison and Main Streets. A fourth robbery occurred around 3:50 a.m. at Cumberland and Belvedere Streets, the victim was not a student.

The victims of these robberies describe the suspect as a black male, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, having a thin build, close-cut hair and being around 30 years old. In two incidents, he wore a black jacket with a fur hood and a red shirt. He also was described as wearing a blue vest with a white shirt in one of the incidents.

VCU Police and the Richmond Police departments are working together to identify and apprehend the suspect.

These recent robberies follow another group that occurred between mid-January and mid-February, involving VCU students in seven of the eight robberies. All of which took place in the Fan District or along its edges and were done at gunpoint.

A man has been charged in connection with two of the holdups from the Fan.

According to the VCU alert, students are being asked to use
the VCU Escort Service. VCU Police also reminds students, faculty and staff to travel in groups, use well traveled and lit areas when walking at nighttime around or near campus and to notify police immediately of any suspicious activity or if they are victims of a crime.