Students robbed at gunpoint

Two university students and one alumnus were held up at gunpoint Thursday night in their home in the University Commons townhouse complex off Haines Street.

At approximately 9:21 p.m., three men armed with handguns entered the victims' residence in the 100 block of Victoria Court through an unlocked door, said Newark police spokesman Lt. Mark Farrall.

"I noticed people walking by, but because it was St. Patrick's Day, I didn't really think too much of it," said junior David Beaver, one of the victims. "I just figured it must be a group of people going to the bar and a couple of minutes after that, the door busted open."

Once inside, the men confronted two of the victims, including Beaver, on the first floor. Two of the men then went upstairs and confronted a third victim in a second-floor bedroom.

According to Beaver, while the two men went upstairs, the third suspect sat in a chair, pointed his gun at them and said he was going to watch the basketball game on TV.

The gunmen took residents' cell phones, laptops, wallets and a Wii game console. In addition, the suspects took alcohol bottles filled with water and highlighter fluid, which were used as decorations in the house. They believed there was alcohol still inside, Beaver said.

After the suspects left the residence, Beaver ran out to his car and saw a gold Dodge Stratus leaving the apartment complex. The car is believed to have had Pennsylvania tags and was driven by a woman, Farrall said.

Beaver said he attempted to follow the suspects, honking his horn and trying to attract attention, but the suspects jumped out of the car one by one on a number of different roads and ran away on foot, leaving the female driver in the vehicle. Beaver then ended his pursuit and returned home.

"I mean, it's a shame because it's one of the safer parts of campus and it's been passed down in our fraternity for like, seven years," Beaver said. "We always kept the doors open, windows open, no second thoughts. That's got to change because literally when you're least expecting it, it happens."

None of the victims were injured during the incident. Farrall said there is no known motive for the crime.

The first gunman is described as a black man, 18 to 22 years old and wearing a maroon hooded sweatshirt. The second is described as a black man, 18 to 22 years old and wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt. The third is described as an 18- to 22-years-old man wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and a light-colored bandana covering his face. The getaway driver is described as a white woman, 18 to 22 years old with blonde hair.

Farrall offered advice to university students following the incident.

"The Newark Police Department encourages students to take proactive crime prevention measures including reporting suspicious activity and keeping doors and windows locked even when home," Farrall stated in an email message.

According to Beaver, there is a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

Anyone with additional information should contact Det. Michael Szep at (302) 366-7110, ext. 136 or michael.szep@cj.state.de.us.