The University of Tulsa administrators failed to alert students in a timely fashion after two TU students were robbed at gunpoint around 6:00 Thursday evening.
Tulsa police are investigating both incidents, meantime some students are frustrated they were not aware of this immediately after it happened.
“It’s unacceptable,” said a junior at TU, Jared King. “TU has a text message alert system that they use for weather emergencies, they could have easily used the same system to alert us about the robberies.”
“I was jogging around the same time, six-o-clock last night (Thursday night) right up to my apartments here at 3rd and Delaware (where the first robbery happened) and I am just lucky I did not have a gun pointed at me,” said another TU student, John Gladd.
The first report happened around 6:15th near 3rd and Delaware. The student told campus and police officers that two men, including one armed with a gun, approached him and ordered him onto the ground. The men then took the student’s belongings and ran south. A similar incident was reported a short time later off campus near 11th and Pittsburg. The victim was also a TU student in that incident.
TU sent an alert to students around 10:30 on Friday morning alerting them to the incidents:
This is a message to notify The University of Tulsa community of two incidents that occurred on or near campus last evening.
About 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, a TU student reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint outside the Norman Village apartments on the northwest corner of campus near 3rd Street and Delaware. The student told campus security and Tulsa Police officers that he was approached by two men, one of whom was armed with a small silver handgun. They ordered him to lie on the ground. The suspects took the student’s belongings and ran south. The student was not physically injured.
While officers were taking the report at Norman Village, a second call came in of a similar incident off campus near 11th Street and Pittsburgh Avenue just east of the TU campus. A TU student also was robbed in this incident, which is being investigated by Tulsa Police. The suspects in the second robbery match those in the first robbery.
The safety of TU students, faculty and staff is always our utmost concern. Although this is a rare occurrence, TU students, faculty and staff are reminded to remain alert and to be aware of their surroundings at all times. In case of emergency or if you see any suspicious activity, immediately call Campus Security at 918-631-5555 or the Tulsa Police Department at 911.
TU officials say students were not notified about the incidents immediately because the student's debit card had been tracked to 81st and Mingo where suspects were attempting to use it. Officials say the decision was made not to send an alert because the suspects were not on campus and students were not in danger at that time.
FOX23 News did not agree that was a good reason to not alert everyone that there were two students attacked by two gunmen who were on the loose. Campus police refused to answer our questions after calling, emailing, and physically walking onto the campus to ask them personally.
Records also show a campus security guard had patrolled the location on campus where the robbery had taken place just moments before the robbery.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or call campus security at 918-631-5555.
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About 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, a TU student reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint outside the Norman Village apartments on the northwest corner of campus near 3rd Street and Delaware. The student told campus security and Tulsa Police officers that he was approached by two men, one of whom was armed with a small silver handgun. They ordered him to lie on the ground. The suspects took the student’s belongings and ran south. The student was not physically injured.
While officers were taking the report at Norman Village, a second call came in of a similar incident off campus near 11th Street and Pittsburgh Avenue just east of the TU campus. A TU student also was robbed in this incident, which is being investigated by Tulsa Police. The suspects in the second robbery match those in the first robbery.
The safety of TU students, faculty and staff is always our utmost concern. Although this is a rare occurrence, TU students, faculty and staff are reminded to remain alert and to be aware of their surroundings at all times. In case of emergency or if you see any suspicious activity, immediately call Campus Security at 918-631-5555 or the Tulsa Police Department at 911.
TU officials say students were not notified about the incidents immediately because the student's debit card had been tracked to 81st and Mingo where suspects were attempting to use it. Officials say the decision was made not to send an alert because the suspects were not on campus and students were not in danger at that time.
Records also show a campus security guard had patrolled the location on campus where the robbery had taken place just moments before the robbery.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or call campus security at 918-631-5555.
