Following a reported stabbing on the evening of Thursday, Oakland University briefly placed its campus on lockdown, as confirmed by ClickOnDetroit. The incident, which caused the university to secure the perimeter, transpired around 8 p.m. just before the lockdown was initiated.
Details provided by WXYZ indicate that the altercation led to a person being stabbed in front of Van Wagoner House, a residence hall, after which two suspects fled the scene and became the target of an extensive manhunt the suspects jumped into a dark-colored SUV and were last seen heading east toward Rochester Hills, though it remains unclear if they had left the university grounds, the pair were not students at Oakland University themselves.
The subsequent lockdown remained specifically enforced at Van Wagoner House throughout the night, while police, including campus police, Auburn Hills police, and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, canvassed the area. A freshman expressed concerns to WXYZ, "It's really scary just because I thought this was a safe university... I'm not saying this one instance defines the university as a whole, but stuff like this shouldn't happen, especially if, not only are we paying to go here, but we're here to not only get our education but feel safe."
However, by Friday morning, officials had lifted the lockdown as CBS Detroit reported, the police felt confident that it was safe for resident students to resume normal activities, yet they have advised the campus community to remain alert and aware of surroundings as a general safety precaution. The two suspects still remain at large while the investigation into the stabbing continues.
Those with any information pertinent to the assault, in which the victim received multiple stab wounds and was taken to the hospital for treatment, have been urged to contact OU police at 248-370-3331. The first suspect was described as a Black male, wearing a black NorthFace jacket, black pants, and white shoes with blue on the back; the second suspect, also a Black male, was seen in a camouflage jacket with black pants and shoes, both being in their early 20s according to Police Chief Mark Gordon.
