Dear Ohio State Community Member:
You are receiving this notice because a crime has occurred that is considered to be of a concern and/or a continuing threat to the campus community.
The purpose of this message is to heighten your safety awareness by providing community members with information necessary to take appropriate precautions, enable you to take actions to help increase your safety, and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.
On 9/2/2020, two related incidents, both classified as hate crime and aggravated assault, occurred in the campus area.
At approximately 11 p.m., officers responded to W. 12th Avenue and College Road on the report of a fight in progress. Officers arrived on scene and located the victim, an Ohio State student. The victim reported that he was walking along High Street on the west sidewalk when an unknown Black male standing across the street yelled a racial slur. The two exchanged words and the suspect that initiated the altercation ran toward the victim punching him in the face. The victim left the area before seeking help for his injuries.
Two additional Ohio State students approached police officers who responded to the scene to report a similar incident from around the same time. The male and female students said they were approached by a Black female in the off-campus area near Chittenden Avenue. The suspect pulled up next to the victims in a new model Honda sedan and yelled the same slur. The students walked away but were either followed or later encountered the same vehicle near the Ohio Union at 12th Avenue. The female driver got out of the car and attacked the female student while a male, believed to be the suspect in the above incident, appeared and struck the male student. The two students were able to flee into the Ohio Union and call for help. No injuries were reported.
The victims in these two incidents were white. Anyone who was in the area and witnessed these incidents, or who may have information related to these crimes, is encouraged to call The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) at 614-292-2121.
Crimes are never the fault of the victim. OSUPD encourages everyone to lock doors and windows. When possible, please walk with friends or coworkers and always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Please utilize transportation services, when possible, and if you see something, say something: report suspicious behavior by calling police.
OSUPD carefully considers information contained in safety notices. All decisions are handled on a case-by-case basis with the safety of our campus community in mind. Law enforcement officers and dispatchers are trained to interview witnesses in an effort to obtain as much information as possible, such as build, hair style, hair color, facial hair, skin tone, eye color, tattoos or identifying marks, teeth, clothing, shoes, etc. OSUPD may limit the use of race, or other descriptors, unless accompanied by a detailed description of the suspect. In an effort to share information in a timely manner, details may be limited and are based on information known or reported at the time of issuance.