Contact: Sammy McDavid
Mississippi State University Police and Division of Student Affairs officials are seeking the public's assistance in identifying one or more suspects involved in an assault and robbery Wednesday night [June 30] on the university campus.
Dean of Students Mike White said a male student enrolled in summer school reported to campus police that he had been assaulted around 9:30 p.m. while walking on the sidewalk between Mitchell Memorial Library and Hand Chemical Laboratory. The buildings are located along the southeast corner of the center-campus Drill Field.
According to information given investigators, the student was on his way to the library when he encountered three individuals walking on the concrete pathway in the opposite direction. He described the trio as two males and a female, all of high school or college age.
As he and the threesome passed, the student said he found himself knocked to the ground after being struck in the face by what he believes to be the fist of one of the individuals. As he lay on the ground, the student said the three individuals ran from the area after removing a wallet from his pants.
After regaining his composure, the student walked in to the library and notified the University Police Department. After being transported to the Oktibbeha County Hospital, the student was determined to have suffered significant facial injuries.
In his statement, the student was unable to provide major details about the female or to say which of the three may have delivered the blow to his face. As for the males, he gave the following descriptions:
The taller of the two was approximately six feet tall and weighed approximately 175 pounds. He was wearing a dark jersey-possibly navy in color-with the letters "FUBU" on the front.
Though not as tall, the other had a more muscular body build. Standing approximately 5-feet, nine inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds, he wore a white T-shirt and jeans.
The student described all of the unknown individuals as African-American.
"We are asking the assistance of the university, Starkville and Golden Triangle communities in helping to identify these three suspects," White said. "All information will be treated confidentially.
"We are hopeful that someone in the local communities can provide the critical information we need to solve this case in an expeditious manner," he added.
White said information calls may be made to the Dean of Students Office at (662) 325-3611; MSU Detective Eddie Scales, at 325-4066; or Golden Triangle Crimestoppers, at [toll-free] (662) 494-0109.