Campus Alert Archive
UB

Three Ski-Masked Suspects Rob Two UB Students Near Creekside Village

NYrobberytimely warningmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

At approximately 12:40 a.m. EDT on October 3, 2024, two UB students were robbed at gunpoint near the Creekside Village Apartments on the North Campus by three men wearing ski masks. UB Police pushed a UB Alert / timely warning describing the suspects, one student was punched in the head and had his cell phone and wallet taken, and the second had a jacket stolen. UB Police later concluded the robbery was a targeted incident and increased patrols through the weekend.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
University at Buffalo
Public R1 · NY
~32,000 studentsUB Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction360 chars
UB Alert: UB Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at approximately 12:40 a.m. near Creekside Village Apartments on UB's North Campus. Two UB students were approached by three men wearing ski masks who displayed handguns and demanded property. Suspects fled on foot. Avoid the area. Anyone with information should contact UPD at 716-645-2222.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from The Spectrum and WGRZ coverage describing the UB Alert / timely warning that went out shortly after the 12:40 AM EDT robbery on October 3, 2024
The Creekside Village Apartments are part of UB's North Campus housing in Amherst, NY
The alert preserves the standard Clery timely-warning structure: time, location, brief description of incident and suspects, and a contact for tips
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Verified verbatimUB Chief of Police Kim Beaty quote in UB Police update, posted to UB Alert campus bulletin archive on October 3, 2024 at 7:32 PM EDT242 chars
I want to assure the UB community that our campuses are safe — new evidence has led us to the conclusion that Thursday morning's armed robbery was clearly a targeted incident and there is no residual danger to our students, faculty and staff.
Verbatim quote from UB Chief of Police Kim Beaty in the official UB Police update on October 3, 2024
The phrase 'no residual danger' is a deliberate de-escalation choice — it asserts an investigative conclusion (targeted incident) rather than the more common 'continuing threat' / 'no continuing threat' formulation used by most campus alerts
Increased patrols continued through the weekend near Creekside Village and the Ellicott Complex
Context

Background

Creekside Village Apartments is part of the on-campus housing complex on the University at Buffalo's North Campus in Amherst, NY. At 12:40 AM EDT on October 3, 2024, three men in ski masks robbed two UB students at gunpoint, punching one in the head and stealing a cell phone, wallet, and a jacket. UB Police pushed a UB Alert timely warning describing the suspects (each in different sweatsuits and shoes) and asking for tips. Initial reporting noted the weapons were possibly plastic or fake, and follow-up communications from UB Chief of Police Kim Beaty characterized the incident as targeted rather than random. The case is a textbook UB Alert sequence: a Clery timely warning issued promptly, followed by a community-reassurance email once investigators determined there was no continuing threat.
Outcome
UB Police investigated as a targeted robbery rather than a random act of violence. UB Chief of Police Kim Beaty publicly assured the community there was no residual danger. Patrols increased through the weekend.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    University Police report armed robbery at Creekside apartments (The Spectrum)
    ubspectrum.com
  2. News
    University Police respond to reports of an armed robbery at UB's North Campus (WGRZ)
    wgrz.com
  3. News
    Campus deemed safe by police as armed robbery at UB still under investigation (News 4 Buffalo)
    wivb.com
  4. Official
    UB Police provide update on armed robbery investigation (UB Alert)
    emergency.buffalo.edu
  5. Official
    Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings (University at Buffalo)
    buffalo.edu
Tags
robberyarmed-robberyski-maskscreekside-villagenorth-campusamherstbuffalonew-yorkpublic-r1timely-warningtargeted
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion