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VCU students nervous after 2 men sucker punched near campus

Posted at 6:06 PM, Sep 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-18 23:29:15-04

RICHMOND, Va. – VCU Police are investigating two aggravated assault incidents that happened over the weekend and some students are worried the attacks may be part of a larger trend.

VCU Junior Sam Cordova is one of thousands of students who walk around campus and the Fan District daily.

"Normally I walk with my friends, but if I have to I don't walk anywhere far if I'm by myself. And if I have so I'm always checking my shoulders and my surroundings,” Cordova said.

Sam Cordova

Sam Cordova

But some students are now keeping an extra eye out after police said two men were punched in the face over the weekend.

"That's very sad. I don't know why someone would think that's OK to just come up to someone and punch someone in the face,” Akua Edusei, a freshman at VCU, said.

The first assault happened Saturday at midnight at the 100 block of Cherry Street when plice say two men approached a man walking down the street and punched him in the eye and the face.

The victim was taken to the hospital.

"I'm a little shocked that it's happening and that people are treating it as a game, because it's not something that should be taken lightly,” junior Isaiah Harvin said.

Then Sunday around 3 a.m. police said a man got punched in the face by the intersection of North Laurel and West Grace Street. He was treated for a chipped tooth. In both incidents, the suspects didn’t steal anything from the victims.

"It's just kids who are tying to have fun in a bad way,” Christian Ruiz, a senior at VCU, said.

 Akua Edusei

AkuaEdusei

Some students like Ruiz said  these attacks remind them of violence that’s made news before: the "knockout game."

"Like in some other cities, kids will come out... and you win if you just knock someone out in one punch. And they can't stand up for 10 seconds, and you win. It's like [about] how many people can you knock out in one day,” Ruiz explained.

VCU police sent out alerts for both assault, saying the suspects were able to get away both times. Officials also included descriptions for the suspects.

Police also want to remind students to be aware of their surroundings, to stay off their phones and take off headphones.

VCU Police

VCU Police

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