CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- The suspects wanted for a carjacking on the Virginia State University campus Monday night are now believed to be connected to another crime.
Police said several female students were walking towards VSU about 40 minutes before the alleged carjacking and robbery when they were approached by four masked men with handguns.
While the men did not make any threats, Chesterfield police believe the two incidents may be connected. However, officials said the students waited more than an hour to report what happened.
Colonial Heights Police were dispatched to the Wendy's on the Boulevard Monday evening where a VSU student was carjacked and robbed at a campus parking lot.
While VSU Police initially said they were not investigating, they are now the lead agency in the investigation.
Khadijah Bines, a student at VSU, said she is heartbroken over the recent spate of crimes reported on or near campus.
Students told senior reporter Wayne Covil Tuesday that events in and around campus have left them on edge.
“I'm an off campus student and I still don't feel safe, coming on to campus or being off campus…,” said Keyera Mason, a VSU student.
Additionally, some students were upset they were not alerted until they received an email three and half hours after the crimes took place.
"I think it took too long and the police department and everybody on campus needs to be more alert and watch out for people. It's kind of sad," said VSU student Keyera Mason.
When CBS 6 News asked why the alert for both incidents went out hours after the alleged carjacking, VSU said police said did not believe students were in danger.
But some students said they should not only be alerted sooner, but that they should be notified of any crime in the immediate area.
"It should definitely be quicker because it's imperative for student safety to know what's going on…,” said Ethel Jordan, a student at the university. “Even if it is not on campus, in the close vicinity, we should know."
Stay with WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for updates on this story.
