By Charles L. Westmoreland
Another U of L student fell victim to armed robbery earlier this week. On Sunday graduate student Ryan Thurman was robbed shortly after pulling into the parking lot at University Park Apartments.
Thurman said he exited his car and was about to open the back door to grab some belongings when he was startled by a figure dressed in all black standing behind his car wearing a black ski mask and pointing a gun at him.
“I never saw him approach,” Thurman said. “By the time I noticed him he was already aiming at me.”
Thurman said it is most likely the suspect was waiting and hiding nearby because of how quickly the suspect moved into position behind his car.
Thurman said he was then ordered to turn around while the suspect searched through his pockets, taking his wallet, cell phone, car keys and $34. Thurman said his wallet was found several days later near the vicinity of Eastern Parkway and Poplar Level Rd. He said his credit cards and debit card were still in the wallet. The only things missing were his insurance card and several business cards, he said.
After he was robbed, Thurman said the suspect ordered him to lie down underneath his car. Thurman said he could then hear the voice of a second suspect and what sounded like another robbery, but Thurman said he was unable to see anything from his position. Thurman also said he could hear the suspects fleeing on foot south behind Humana Gym.
Abraham George, Resident Advisor at University Park Apartments, confirmed that a couple was robbed at gun point Sunday between 8:30 and 9 p.m. in the same area where Thurman was robbed. The Cardinal has not yet reached the other victims for comment.
Another student, Leslie Ann Ramos, contacted The Cardinal concerning three laptops that were also stolen the same night. Ramos said there were no signs of forced entry. U of L’s Department of Public Safety and UPA are currently looking into this situation and the apartment robberies have not yet been connected with the armed robberies at UPA.
A meeting is planned for Monday at 7 p.m. to discuss the sudden spree of robberies affecting U of L students.
Maj. Kenny Brown, assistant director of DPS, said the department has made three arrests this week. DPS caught two suspects during a burglary in progress at the baseball stadium, and on Monday, DPS arrested a man on campus for speeding and not having a driver’s license. DPS also found a 9 millimeter pistol and ski mask in the car. The gun will undergo ballistic testing, but the suspect has not been connected to any of the armed robberies at this time.
The Cardinal will report regular updates on our Web site as more information is gathered and confirmed.
