Police at the University of Texas at Arlington are investigating three March 16 incidents, one involving students being shot by a pellet gun and another involving the theft of a cricket bat at gunpoint. The crimes were described in e-mail bulletins that went out about 24 hours after they occurred, said university spokesman Jerry Lewis. He said the bulletins are sent to faculty, students and staff when anything suspicious or criminal is reported.
The details in the e-mail alerts were:
At about 12:57 a.m. March 16, a student was walking in the 600 block of First Street when he heard someone yelling "you’re lucky" behind him. He then saw an older four-door sedan with two men inside. The passenger had both arms out of the window, pointing at the student and shouted "you’re lucky."
About an hour later, two men walking in the 400 block of Oak Street were struck by shots from a air gun or pellet gun that was fired from a passing white car with two men inside.
Then, about 11:58 p.m., 19 students playing cricket at 800 W. UTA Blvd. were confronted by six men, two holding some kind of handgun. The men demanded the cricket bat one of the students was holding and fled.
The victims in the first two incidents were identified in the e-mails as "students of Middle Eastern descent." Lewis said the university has a large population of Middle Eastern students, many of whom live on campus, and university officials don’t suspect a trend. Police are asking anyone with information about the incidents to call them at 817-272-3381.
-- Traci Shurley
Does this speak badly of UTA?
Or Arlington?
Posted by: Colt | March 31, 2008 at 05:30 AM