Student assaulted, robbed by group on North College Avenue

A 19-year-old male university student was robbed and assaulted by a group of men while walking alone on North College Avenue early Sunday morning, said Newark police spokesman MCpl. Gerald Bryda.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., the victim was walking southbound on North College Avenue toward North Street when he was approached by a group of five or six men, Bryda said.

The suspects then requested to use the victim's cell phone. He refused; however, he did remove the phone from his pocket, making it visible to the suspects, Bryda said.

He said one of the suspects then displayed what the victim believed to be a pellet gun and demanded the victim hand over his cell phone and any money he had.

After he complied with these demands, one of the suspects allegedly struck the victim in the back of the head, Bryda said.

The suspects then fled on foot eastbound on North Street toward Wilbur Street, he said.

The victim described the suspects as black males, all wearing white or black T-shirts and fitted baseball hats, and one had a dreadlock hairstyle, Bryda said.