On March 26, 2022 at around 12:33 a.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report of a Robbery. The incident occurred a few minutes earlier in the MetroTech Commons area behind Rogers Hall, in Brooklyn. 
 
The victim, an NYU student, was at the MetroTech Commons when two suspects approached the victim, stated that they had a gun, and demanded that the victim unlock his iPhone. The suspects then took the phone and left the scene. The victim then ran to Othmer Hall and reported the incident to a Campus Safety Officer. NYPD was immediately called and responded at 12:36 a.m. No injuries were reported.

Description of the Suspects: The two suspects were described as male-presenting with dark complexions, between the ages of 18 and 21. Both suspects were wearing all black and Varden sneakers. One suspect was wearing a belt with a large buckle.

This is an active NYPD investigation and no other details are available at this time. If you have additional information about this incident please contact Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Washington Square Park is open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. We recommend not being in the park when it is closed.

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant. 
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Remember your transportation options during the fall and spring semesters: from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m., 7 days a week, you can utilize Safe Ride or the Brooklyn Overnight Shuttle. From 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. you can utilize our Campus Shuttles.
  
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.
  
  
• NYU students can call the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 24/7 for confidential medical and counseling support.  
  
  
• NYU Faculty, Administrators and Staff can call the Employee Assistance Program powered by Optum at 888-980-8740 24/7 for confidential counseling support.

On March 18, 2022 at around 5:50 a.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report of an Aggravated Assault from NYPD. The incident occurred at around 3:45 a.m. near the fountain in Washington Square Park, in Manhattan. 
 
The victim, a non-NYU affiliate, was involved in an altercation with a group of individuals when one of the group members used a sharp intrument to stab the victim in the head. The suspects then fled the area. 

According to the NYPD, the victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for their non-life-threatening injuries. No description of the suspects is currently available. 

This is an active NYPD investigation and no other details are available at this time. If you have additional information about this incident please contact Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Washington Square Park is open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. We recommend not being in the park when it is closed.

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant. 
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Remember your transportation options during the fall and spring semesters: from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m., 7 days a week, you can utilize Safe Ride or the Brooklyn Overnight Shuttle. From 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. you can utilize our Campus Shuttles.
  
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.
  
  
• NYU students can call the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 24/7 for confidential medical and counseling support.  
  
  
• NYU Faculty, Administrators and Staff can call the Employee Assistance Program powered by Optum at 888-980-8740 24/7 for confidential counseling support.

On March 7, 2022 at 1:28 p.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a preliminary report of a menacing, which after investigation was reclassified as an attempted robbery. The incident occurred at around 1:22 p.m. on the west side of Washington Square Park, in Manhattan. 
 
The victim, an NYU student, was sitting on a bench when the suspect approached the victim, asking if they wanted to buy a coat. The victim declined. At that time, the suspect threatened the victim and mentioned they had a knife.  The victim observed that the suspect was holding a Leatherman branded multitool. The suspect left the victim alone and walked to another bench where they appeared to speak to two other people. The victim observed that the multitool's knife was pulled out at that time. The victim then contacted Campus Safety. Shortly after this, the suspect left the park via the southwest corner (the intersection of Washington Square South and Washington Square West).    

The victim was unharmed - there were no injuries reported and no property was taken.

Description of Suspect: The suspect is described as female-presenting, approximately 40 to 50 years old, and 5'5" in height and of slim to average build, with a light complexion, black hair with gray streaks pulled back in a bun, wearing a black leather jacket and jeans. 

This is an active investigation and no other details are available at this time. If you have additional information about this incident please contact Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant. 
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Remember your transportation options during the fall and spring semesters: from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m., 7 days a week, you can utilize Safe Ride or the Brooklyn Overnight Shuttle. 
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.
  
  
• NYU students can call the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 24/7 for confidential medical and counseling support.  
  
  
• NYU Faculty, Administrators and Staff can call the Employee Assistance Program powered by Optum at 888-980-8740 24/7 for confidential counseling support.

The week before last, I wrote to make the community aware of three disturbing incidents involving students struck without warning in the area east of Washington Square Park.  

This past Friday, there was another incident that bears hallmarks of the prior incidents: an Asian NYU student was struck without warning or provocation while walking west on W. 4th Street between Mercer and Greene Streets by a male-presenting individual with blonde hair. In this case, the description differs in certain respects: the assailant was also described as having a beard and as being 5’6” or 5’7” in height.

We are, of course, deeply concerned about these incidents. There is no videotape of the incidents that would give us additional information or investigative material that would allow us to determine more definitively how these incidents might be related; nevertheless, it seems likely that at least some, if not all, of the incidents are connected. And given the fact that three of the four incidents involved Asian students, we are proceeding on the assumption that anti-Asian bigotry must be playing a role.

With regard to that assumption: the City’s Asian Hate Crimes Task Force has recently posted a video on social media of a man with blonde hair being sought in connection with incidents of punching Asian women in southern Manhattan. 

Campus Safety is taking a number of steps:

1. In addition to our prior outreach to the NYPD to make them aware of the attacks, we have also reached out to the Asian Hate Crimes Task Force to share the information we have, as well as to learn more of what the individual they are seeking is suspected of having done.
2. We will be adding more video cameras east of Washington Square Park and we are working with the Facilities and Construction Management unit to enhance lighting where we have scaffolding.
3. We are increasing Campus Safety foot patrols in the areas east of Washington Square Park where the incident occurred, with a focus on the evening period.
4. We have put Campus Safety officers on heightened alert 1) so that any possibly related additional incidents are quickly flagged for higher level attention, and 2) so that CSOs are vigilant about individuals who might fit the description.
5. We have begun reviewing our policies about campus notification to make sure we are getting timely information out.
6. We have reinforced with Campus Safety Officers the importance of treating reports of students being struck — or any other matter — with the utmost seriousness, promptness, respect, and concern.

We urge anyone who saw any of these incidents or who may have any information that may bear on these incidents to come forward to Campus Safety (212.998.2222), and we urge anyone who may recognize or have information about the individual in the video posted on social media to promptly contact Crimestoppers. Crimes and emergencies should be reported to 911.

We view these occurrences with the utmost seriousness and will continue and heighten our vigilance. We want these incidents to end immediately. We are conscious of the unease that Asian members of the NYU community may be feeling right now; we stand united in full support of them, and want them to know they have our support and that we are determined to make them feel secure on our campus.

On February 18, 2022 at 10:30 a.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report from NYPD of a robbery that occurred on February 16, 2022 at around 9:50 p.m. in the Garibaldi Plaza area of Washington Square Park, in Manhattan. 
 
The victim, a non-NYU affiliate, was at Garibaldi Plaza when three male-presenting people approached the victim, flashed multiple firearms, and took various personal items. The three suspects ran south to Washington Square South and escaped in a white sedan, going east on Washington Square South.  

No injuries were reported. 

Description of Suspects: The three suspects are described as male-presenting people.

This is an active police investigation and no other details are available at this time.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant. 
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Remember your transportation options during the fall and spring semesters: from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m., 7 days a week, you can utilize Safe Ride or the Brooklyn Overnight Shuttle. 
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.
  
  
• NYU students can call the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 24/7 for confidential medical and counseling support.  
  
  
• NYU Faculty, Administrators and Staff can call the Employee Assistance Program powered by Optum at 888-980-8740 24/7 for confidential counseling support.

Date: 2/17/2022
To: The NYU Community
From: Fountain Walker, Vice President for Campus Safety
Re: Three Concerning Incidents East of Washington Square

I want to alert the NYU community to three incidents east of Washington Square Park that involved members of the community being struck without warning by a passerby.

On February 7, two students were walking west on West 4th Street near Stern’s Kaufman Management Education Center (KMEC) building at about 11:20 pm. Both of them were struck without warning by a passing individual — described by the victim as a light-complected male with blond hair — who also yelled at them in a language other than English.  

On February 13 at about 9:00 pm, a student was walking west on Washington Place when, without a word, she was struck on the arm after passing an individual described by the victim as a light-complected male with blond hair dressed in dark clothing.

On February 15 at about 4:30 pm, a student was walking under the sidewalk bridge on the north side of the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences when he was struck without warning and knocked to the ground by an individual described by a witness as a light-complected male with blond hair. No words were exchanged.

Campus Safety is investigating all these incidents; we have contacted the police about them and are encouraging the students to do likewise.

At this point, we cannot say with certainty whether the three incidents involve the same assailant. In two of the three incidents the victims were Asian; we don’t know at this point whether racial hate played a role. Under any circumstances, these attacks are disturbing, and our concerns are compounded by the troubling possibility of anti-Asian bias, which has been a worrisomely growing phenomenon, playing a role.

I am sure I speak for everyone in offering support to the victims. I’d like to make a few points. 

First, if it is the case that bigotry played a part in this, let me make clear that NYU rejects and condemns the rising tide of bias directed at members of the Asian community and is consistently working with partners to take proactive steps, as well as responding to particular incidents as they arise. We know it can feel frightening; we want you to know we fully support and stand in solidarity with you, and we will carry on our investigation and work with the police. 

Second, if anyone witnessed these incidents or any similar incidents, or if you have any other information related to them to share, I urge you to come forward promptly — contact Campus Safety at 212.998.2222.

Third, I want to remind everyone that it is important to report incidents, as these students did. Doing so allows us to better understand the public safety environment and take steps accordingly. Please don’t hesitate to step forward and make a report. And, when criminality and especially violence is involved, please consider making a report to the police — only they have the authority to place assailants under arrest.

Lastly, I know that word of incidents like this can be unnerving, understandably. Accordingly, I also want to remind everyone about two important resources: the Bias Response Reporting Line (bias.response@nyu.edu or 212.998.2277), and the Wellness Exchange (wellness.exchange@nyu.edu or 212.443.9999), which is available 24/7. Students who identify as Asian and Pacific Islander are also welcomed to participate in the API Students Support Space, which meets Fridays at 2 pm.

On November 11, 2021 at 5:55 a.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report of a robbery that occurred at 5:43 a.m. in front of 383 Lafayette Street, in Manhattan. 
 
The victim, an NYU student, was walking east on East 4th Street between Lafayette Street and Bowery, when a dark colored mid-sized vehicle came to a stop behind them. Three male-presenting people got out of the vehicle and demanded that the victim give them their belongings.  The victim handed over their jacket, Apple Watch, iPhone and backpack and the suspects returned to their car and left.

No injuries were reported. NYPD was contacted. 

Description of Suspects: Three of the suspects are described as male-presenting people with dark complexions, between 5'6" and 5'10" in height, in their 20s and 30s.  Two of the suspects had a firearm. No information on the driver is available. 

This is an active police investigation and no other details are available at this time.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant.
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.
  
  
• NYU students can call the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 24/7 for confidential medical and counseling support. 
  

On October 20, 2021 at 2:30 p.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report of a robbery that occurred between 4:50 a.m and 5:20 a.m. in front of D'Agostino Hall, in Manhattan. 
 
The victim, a non-NYU affiliate, reported to the NYPD that while walking past D'Agostino Hall an unknown male-presenting person came up to them and threatened them with a large bottle. The suspect then hit the victim accross the face with the bottle and took the victim's cell phone. The victim declined medical attention. 

Description of Suspect: The suspect is described as a male-presenting person with a light complexion and short hair, approximately 5'9" in height, and weighing approximately 165 pounds, wearing a white hoodie and black jacket with light colored jeans and black sneakers.

This is an active police investigation and no other details are available at this time.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant.
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.

On September 21, 2021, the NYU Department of Campus Safety received verified reports of shots fired on Metrotech Commons between 5 Metrotech and 6 Metrotech in Brooklyn. 

The incident was initially reported at around 3:00 pm. Preliminary reports indicate that shots were fired between two groups of teenagers, who then fled the scene.  An NYU student was injured in the arm and was sent to the hospital in stable condition. 

The scene has been cleared by NYPD and it is safe to resume normal activity. 

If you or anyone you know are in need of counseling or mental health services, please contact The NYU Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 for assistance 24 hours-a-day. 

Anyone who may have information about the shooting incident is urged to come forward and contact the Department of Campus Safety at 212-998-2222.

Description of Suspects: Initial reports indicate that the suspects involved were a group of 7 or 8 teenagers, 14-19 years old.

The suspect who fired the gunshots has a dark complexion, a thin build, was 16 to 18 years old, around 5'8" to 5'9" in height and was wearing a black sweatshirt with an orange and yellow smiley face, with crossed out eyes, gray sweatpants, and black sneakers. No additional information is available at this time.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  
  
• Using a smartphone or other electronic devices, especially with earbuds, can be distracting and may make you a vulnerable target for an assailant.
  
  
• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• Try not to walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups, whenever you can, there is always safety in numbers.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.

A version of this alert went out last night with the incorrect date. Please see corrected Safety Alert with corrected date, below.

On September 15, 2021, at 10:20 p.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report of a Simple Assault - Hate Crime that occured earlier that evening, at approximately 10:10 p.m outside Coral Towers Hall, in Manhattan. 

The victims, two NYU students, reported that while they were walking towards the Duane Reade on 14th Street and Third Avenue (below Coral Towers Hall), they were approached by an unknown male. The male saw them holding hands, called them a homophobic slur, and punched one victim in the face. The victims fled into the Duane Reade and later  called the Department of Campus Safety. 

One victim reported that their face was sore but declined medical attention. 

This incident is being investigated as a Hate Crime. 

Description of the Suspect: The suspect was described as a male in his early 30s, 6'1" in height, with short scruffy hair and a dark complexion, wearing a black t-shirt.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.  

On September 16, 2021, at 10:20 p.m., the Department of Campus Safety received a report of a Simple Assault - Hate Crime that occured earlier that evening, at approximately 10:10 p.m outside Coral Towers Hall, in Manhattan. 

The victims, two NYU students, reported that while they were walking towards the Duane Reade on 14th Street and Third Avenue (below Coral Towers Hall), they were approached by an unknown male. The male saw them holding hands, called them a homophobic slur, and punched one victim in the face. The victims fled into the Duane Reade and later  called the Department of Campus Safety. 

One victim reported that their face was sore but declined medical attention. 

This incident is being investigated as a Hate Crime. 

Description of the Suspect: The suspect was described as a male in his early 30s, 6'1" in height, with short scruffy hair and a dark complexion, wearing a black t-shirt.

Please Remember These Safety Tips:

• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.  

On Friday, September 10, 2021, at 9:12 p.m. the NYU Department of Campus Safety received a report of a sexual assault/fondling that occurred at approximately 4:40 p.m., on the sidewalk near 721 Broadway, in Manhattan.

The victim, an NYU student, reported that while they were standing outside of 721 Broadway, a man on a black two-wheeled scooter or motorcycle grabbed their breast. The victim also state that the suspect matched the description of the other Safety Alerts sent by the Department of Campus Safety

Description of Suspect: The past victims have stated that the suspect was wearing a black full-face motorcycle helmet and dark clothing. Thus, the gender of the suspect is unknown. The victims have also stated that the suspect was of average height and build, and that the motorcycle was "sporty".

This is an ongoing investigation by NYPD and the Department of Campus Safety and no other details are available at this time.

• Until the suspect is apprehended, we advise that memebers of the NYU community stand a few feet back from the curb on the sidewalk when waiting to cross the street, and that they be attentice to scooters and other similar vehicles that seem to be traveling unusually close to the curb and pedestrians.
  

• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others -- a store, or an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted.
  
  
• If you are the victim of a crime, call 911 immediately and then report the incident to the Department of Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.
  
  
• NYU students can call 212-443-9999 24/7 for confidential medical and counseling support following sexual misconduct.  

Date: 09/01/2021
To: NYU Community
From: Fountain L. Walker, Vice President, Global Campus Safety
Re: Possibly Related Sexual Assault / Fondling Incidents

Yesterday, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, the Department of Campus Safety alerted the NYU community to an incident that occured the afternoon before in which a female student on the northeast corner of East 8th Street and University Place, in Manhattan had her breast grabbed by the driver of a passing scooter or other type of two-wheeled motorized vehicle.

Since then, two other similar incidents involving female NYU students have occured, both involving sexual assault/fondling by a passing driver of a two-wheeled motorized vehicle, one near Gramercy Green Hall, the other at the intersection of Broadway and East 8th Street. 

None of the victims reported any serious physical injuries.

Law enforcement authorities have indicated that there have been similar incidents following the same pattern but not involving members of our community.  They are investigating, as is the NYU Department of Campus Safety.

If anyone has observed these incidents or can provide information that could aid in the investigation of this matter, please contact NYU Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222.

Until the suspect is apprehended, we advise that members of the NYU community stand a few feet back from the curb on the sidewalk when waiting to cross the street, and that they be attentive to scooters and similar vehicles that seem to be traveling unusually close to the curb and pedestrians. The description of the suspect, whose face cannot be seen because of the helmet worn, is below.   

Description of Suspect: The victims stated that the suspect was wearing a black full-face motorcycle helmet and dark clothing. Thus, the gender of the suspect is unknown. A victim also stated that the suspect was of average height and build, and that the motorcycle was "sporty". No further details are currently available.