The 18-year-old victim, who lives in Avery Residence Hall, reported to University police at 6:51 p.m. an armed robbery of his laptop computer, a cell phone, jewelry and little cash, said University Police Chief Derek Poarch shortly after the incident.
No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported, according to a statement released Thursday night by University police.
The release describes the robber as a black male about 5 feet 10 inches tall, 185 pounds with a medium to dark complexion and no facial hair. The robber wore his hair in a tight cornrow style and was wearing a gray T-shirt, blue jeans and boots, according to reports.
Poarch said Thursday night that officials did not know whether the robber was a student and did not know if he was still on campus. It is still unclear whether anyone else was involved, but Poarch said no one was in the room with the victim.
Officers patrolled campus Thursday night and were on high alert near Avery, Poarch said.
In the meantime, officials are interviewing possible witnesses and following a number of leads. "It's still ongoing," Poarch said. "It's really so early -- the detectives are just getting started."
In an interview two hours after the robbery, the victim said that the robber knocked on the door and that he called for the robber to come in.
After the robber entered and asked for another resident, the victim directed him across the hall. The robber left, then re-entered shortly after without knocking, the victim said.
When the robber entered the second time, he was holding a gun in front of the victim. "It was an old, crappy gun, and I just thought he was kidding," the victim said.
