Late in the morning of Nov. 20, UMass Boston Campus Police was alerted to an armed robbery on campus. According to a report from the University of Massachusetts Boston Emergency Alert System, the robbery occurred at approximately 11:32 a.m. on the plaza next to the Quinn Administration Building.
The suspect is described as a white male of medium build, standing five feet nine inches tall. The suspect was dressed in a black winter hat, a beige jacket, and a backpack of unknown color. The suspect’s face was reportedly obscured by a green bandana.
The perpetrator indicated that he was in possession of a firearm, although it was unspecified whether he brandished the weapon or not. The suspect stole the victim’s purse before escaping from the crime scene. The victim did not suffer any serious injuries.
UMass Boston Police is currently investigating the incident and has asked anyone with information to contact their department at 617-287-7780. UMass Boston Police has also reminded students that they “are cautioned not to stop and talk to strangers, to walk in well-lighted areas, and to report any suspicious activities or encounters to the UMass Boston Police Department.”
The armed robbery is not the first serious incident to take place on campus in the past year. Last semester two bomb threats were called in to campus on April 17 and April 22. The two incidents were later linked to 29-year-old Dean Beckford, a Somerville resident and a UMass Boston senior at the time. No devices or explosives were found in either incident.
The armed robbery is currently under investigation. The Mass Media will update further on the incident and investigation as more information becomes available.