What started as a lone man on an early morning walk in Dinkytown turned violent on Saturday, when three masked suspects allegedly beat him, stole his belongings, then took off in his car. The victim was struck in the face with an unknown weapon, university officials say. Police later found the vehicle and a gun during a traffic stop, but the suspects slipped away and remain at large.
University alert lists time and location
According to a Safe-U advisory from the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the armed robbery happened at about 4:20 a.m. near the intersection of 14th Avenue Southeast and 7th Street Southeast. The alert states that three masked suspects dressed in all black approached the victim, hit him in the face with an unknown weapon, and took his phone, keys, and jacket before driving away in his vehicle. The advisory asks anyone with information to call 911.
Stolen vehicle stopped, occupants fled
A neighboring police department later spotted the stolen vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The occupants ran from the car, and officers recovered a firearm inside, as reported by FOX 9. Authorities did not immediately release information on arrests or a detailed suspect description. The station noted its report was based on the university advisory.
Dinkytown safety warnings continue
The robbery adds to a run of advisories the university has issued this spring about off-campus incidents near campus, including other robberies in Dinkytown and nearby neighborhoods, according to the public safety alerts archive. University Public Safety operates the Safe-U and Dinkytown Alert systems to notify students and staff of incidents outside the Clery geography and, according to the department’s site notes, offers resources for late-night travel and escorts.
How to help investigators
Officials are asking anyone with information about the Saturday morning robbery to call 911 and report tips to local police, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Witnesses who were in the area around 4:20 a.m. are urged to contact authorities and share any video or details that might help the investigation.
