The University of Missouri Police Department is currently investigating a “strong armed robbery,” according to [MU Alert](http://mualert.missouri.edu/). The robbery occurred by the sand volleyball courts near Hawthorn Hall, the release stated.
Students were notified at about 7:45 p.m., but the original alert did not provide students with the location.
“Safety is the university’s top priority and we are working hard to assure that the campus remains safe while information is obtained and confirmed,” the news release stated.
The suspect description is of a light-skinned black male in his late teens to early 20s with short hair and approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. The man was last seen wearing a white, possibly V-neck shirt, black athletic shorts, orange shoes and possibly a lanyard.
Following the robbery, the man entered a damaged navy minivan with five or six passengers on Rollins Street and drove east toward College Avenue.
MU freshman Meghan Gray said she was the individual robbed.
“I was walking back to my dorm with my friend and I felt someone pulling on my hand,” Gray said in a Facebook message. “I turned around thinking it was some kind of joke, then I saw a saw a guy and realized what was happening. He pulled me down, took my wallet and ran away. A guy standing by ran after him and saw him jump into a minivan with a bunch of other guys.”
Students were notified at 8:43 p.m. that the emergency alert situation has been stabilized.
The release stated MUPD was “working hard to confirm facts and maintain the safety of the campus.”
As the investigation is still ongoing, MUPD is unable to release any more information at this time, MUPD spokesman Capt. Brian Weimer said.
“We’re telling people to just refer to the site and if they could help us we’d greatly appreciate it,” Weimer said.