Director of Public Safety Gene Burton said Ball State University Police are still searching for a suspect in a robbery that took place near the intersection of McKinley and Neely avenues.
No injuries were reported, but a purse was stolen in the incident, which occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Monday just north of the Architecture Building.
According to UPD, a female Ball State student was walking eastbound in the 1700 block of Neely Avenue when the suspect grabbed her purse and ran east toward the Amelia T. Wood Health Center. The victim started to chase the suspect - who was described as a slender white male in his early 20s wearing a tan coat, grey zip-up hoodie and grey beanie hat - while calling out for help.
Two witnesses, both male students who were crossing Neely Avenue near the Health Center and heard the victim's calls, approached the suspect. The suspect stuck his hand in his coat and threatened to shoot if the witnesses didn't back away. Then the suspect ran north toward Worthen Arena.
The phone call to UPD was made by a student from his or her room in Noyer Complex. According to UPD, the student saw the victim calling for help outside of the residence hall.
Ball State police officer Steven Jennings, who was on the scene, said he thinks the suspect slipped on ice while running down the sidewalk between the Health Center and the parking lot near Irving Gymnasium, spilling some of the purse's contents. Jennings collected tiny scraps of paper that were thought to be from the purse off of the road.
University and Delaware County police were still searching the scene as of 11:10 p.m. Monday.
County deputy Grant Delagarza said county police brought K-9 officers to track where the suspect fled.
According to UPD, witnesses initially said they saw the suspect had a silver hand gun, but further interviews showed the witnesses didn't really see a gun.
Burton said police have no suspects yet.
Anyone with information about this crime should call University Police at 765-285-1111.
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