CHICAGO — Three students were robbed at gunpoint outside a Loyola University Chicago residence hall on Saturday, according to the school’s police department.
The victims were on the sidewalk outside Marquette Hall, 6255 North Kenmore, when a gray four-door sedan pulled up around 3:40 a.m. Saturday, Loyola University police said in an online statement.
Four people exited the car, one displayed a gun, and the group ordered the students to turn over their property. After collecting the students’ phones, wallets, and other valuables, the men returned to the car and fled, according to Loyola police.
Chicago police officers who responded to the scene reported that the getaway car may have been a Nissan. They described the robbers as four Black males wearing black hoodies and black and red ski masks.
It was a bad weekend for Chicago’s university students. On Saturday night into Sunday morning, at least four DePaul University students were robbed on the school’s Lincoln Park campus.
DePaul leadership published a letter to the school community Sunday urging students to take “extra steps” to be safe in light of an ongoing robbery problem on campus.
“We are taking action at DePaul and with the City of Chicago to address ongoing challenges the city is facing with armed robberies,” President Robert Manuel wrote, confirming that one student was pistol-whipped in the latest crimes.
“Chicago continues to grapple with criminal activity, including robberies throughout the city,” he continued. “Public Safety remains on heightened alert and is actively working with the Chicago Police Department to address these most recent incidents on campus.”
“We urge students to take extra steps to stay aware of your surroundings,” the note said. Manuel encouraged students to take advantage of the school’s public safety resources, particularly during evening hours. He said the local police commander told a recent school safety summit that most robberies in Chicago occur between midnight and 4 a.m.
The school’s staff is working with last night’s victims to “make sure they are receiving care and support,” Manuel stated.
It was the second letter DePaul’s top executives published letters addressing on-campus robberies at the school.
