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VCU students react to late-night robbery

Posted at 6:16 PM, Mar 17, 2015
and last updated 2015-03-17 18:35:59-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- The return from spring break turned chaotic outside of a Virginia Commonwealth University dorm after a robbery was reported late Monday night.

"I just saw a whole bunch of police start running," said LaShai Wyatt. "Some of them ran this way. Some of them ran back here. People were like scared."

LaShai Wyatt and Jazmine Wright are still talking about the student robbed Monday night on Broad and Hancock streets.

"I just heard ‘stop, get down, police.’ And I was like, ‘what is going on outside,’" said Jazmine Wright.

According to VCU Police, an officer spotted what appeared to be a robbery taking place while patrolling the area.

The officer got out of his car and ran after one of the suspects. He was caught. Then, more officers responded to the scene and captured three other men.

Police tracked down the victim who identified the four suspects as the ones involved in the robbery.

VCU Police tell CBS 6 none of the men are students.

But the commotion is scary for students, who say they don't see too many crimes happen here.

"Stuff like that never really happens like right on the core part of campus like….this is a dorm,” said Wright. “That happened right next to a dorm. And that is usually not the case here."

And, even though the suspects are behind bars, VCU Senior Elisa Farrantino is taking her safety a step further. She uses pepper spray.

"I have my pepper spray,” said Farrantino. “I travel in groups. I am never walking around at late times of night. If I do, I drive. And, I let people know where I'm going."

The four suspects are facing robbery charges. They're being held at the Richmond City Jail.