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UChicago

Three Students Robbed at Gunpoint in Broad Daylight While a Blue Light Box Sat Broken Nearby

ILrobberytimely warningmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On April 17, 2024, three University of Chicago students were robbed at gunpoint in two separate incidents within five minutes of each other near campus in Hyde Park. Four armed suspects targeted two students outside Bartlett Dining Commons on South University Avenue at 2:50 PM, and two more suspects robbed a third student on East 56th Street. An emergency blue light box near one scene had been inoperable since at least September 2023.

Alerts
1
Response
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
University of Chicago
Private R1 · IL
~18,452 studentsUChicago Safe
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTPush
Security Alert The University of Chicago Department of Safety & Security is issuing this Security Alert in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. At approximately 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, a University student walking at 5639 S. University and a second University student walking across the street at 5640 S. University were approached by four suspects armed with handguns. The suspects took property from the victims before fleeing the scene in a four-door black Infiniti. Five minutes later, another University student walking off-campus at 1367 E. 56th Street was approached by two armed suspects. The assailants demanded and took the victim's belongings before fleeing in a four-door black vehicle southbound on S. Dorchester Avenue. Safety Recommendations: - Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. - Do not resist an armed robbery unless absolutely necessary. - Avoid using cell phones or other electronic devices while on the street. - When walking, try to walk with a group or have a friend walk with you. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the University of Chicago Police Department at 773-702-8181.
Verbatim from the official UChicago Security Alert page, with safety recommendations included
5639 S. University is the Psi Upsilon fraternity house and 5640 S. University is Bartlett Dining Commons — a high-traffic mid-campus area
The 1367 E. 56th Street second incident occurred only five minutes later, suggesting coordinated activity by multiple groups
The black four-door vehicle pattern and the very tight time window indicate the suspects may have been the same group striking twice
Context

Background

On the afternoon of April 17, 2024, three University of Chicago students were robbed at gunpoint in two separate incidents within minutes of each other. At approximately 2:50 PM CDT, four armed individuals approached two students near Bartlett Dining Commons on South University Avenue and the Psi Upsilon fraternity house at 5639 South University Avenue. Five minutes later, two armed individuals robbed a third student on East 56th Street between South Kenwood and South Dorchester Avenues. The Chicago Maroon reported that an emergency blue light box located near one of the incidents had been inoperable since at least September 2023. In one notable moment, a student resisted the robbery and managed to pull the magazine from the suspect's gun. The incidents prompted the university to issue an update on safety and security measures.
Analysis

Key Findings

Both robberies occurred in broad daylight, at approximately 2:50 PM on a Wednesday, in well-traveled areas near campus buildings
An emergency blue light box near one of the robbery scenes had been broken since at least September 2023, highlighting infrastructure gaps
One student's decision to resist the armed robbery and grab the gun's magazine was captured on video and widely covered in media
Outcome
No students were physically injured. In one incident, a student resisted and managed to grab the suspect's gun magazine. The suspects fled in black vehicles. No immediate arrests were announced. The university increased patrols and reviewed security infrastructure.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
  2. News
  3. News
  4. News
Tags
robberyarmed-robberygunpointhyde-parkblue-light-boxstudent-resistanceillinoisprivate-university
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion