Man Punches Northwestern Student In Attempted Robbery

Police are searching for a man who punched a Northwestern student and demanded that he “give it up” in an attempted robbery on campus early Tuesday morning.

The student was walking northbound on the sidewalk between the Music Administration Building and the Rebecca Crown Center at 5:50 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, when a man approached him from behind, according to University Police. 

The man grabbed the student’s coat and pants pockets, saying “let it go” and “give it up.” Then he punched the student in the face. 

Police say the student fought with the offender, who eventually ran away. The student suffered minor injuries, but declined to go to the hospital. He told police that the man did not display any weapons, and did not take anything from the student. 

The student described the offender as a black man in his early 20s, between 5’8” and 5’9”, with an average build who was wearing a dark-colored coat and a black knit hat, police said. 

Northwestern University Police Department are asking anyone with information to contact the department at 847-491-3456.