UPDATE (4:46 pm): Attempted strong-armed robbery near Purdue Armory

By Staff Reports

Publication Date: 11/03/2009

Purdue University and West Lafayette police are investigating a reported strong-armed robbery that allegedly occurred at about 2:10 p.m. Tuesday near the Purdue Armory on campus.

A Lafayette youth told police he was skateboarding near the Armory when two white males approached him from behind. After briefly talking with the youth, one of the men demanded that he turn over all of his money. The victim thought at first that the man was joking. The suspect then pulled up his sleeves like he was going to hit the victim and told him that he had a knife and a gun.

The youth ran from the scene, followed by both men, and entered the Circle K station at the corner of Stadium and Northwestern avenues. The victim and a witness at Circle K confirmed that at least one of the suspects pursued him to the Circle K before leaving in an unknown direction.

One suspect was described as 16-18 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, medium build,with short blond hair and scruffy facial hair. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt under a black hoodie.

The other suspect was described as 16-18 years old, with a medium build, short brown hair, silver-framed glasses and a visible mark on the left side of his neck. He was last seen wearing a black, gray and red plaid wool sweater.

Purdue and West Lafayette police officers checked the area but were unable to locate either suspect. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Purdue University Police Department at 765-494-8221 or the We Tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463.

For more on this story see Wednesday's Exponent.