A male University student was robbed at gunpoint last night as he was walking on 41st Street between Locust and Spruce streets, according to University Police.
Police officials said they are searching for an African-American man, about 5'8" and 160 pounds, in connection with the incident. The man was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.
According to police reports, the student was walking south on 41st Street at around 9 p.m., when the alleged robber, who was heading north on 41st Street, jogged up to him.
"He slowed down as he approached me and basically asked me for money," the student said in an interview last night. "I was reluctant at first, and that's when he pulled out a small silvery handgun."
"I was going to take out the cash from my wallet and he ended up snatching the wallet from my hands," said the student, who asked not to be identified.
According to police, the wallet reportedly contained close to $100 in cash, a credit card and the student's PennCard.
After the incident, the student continued walking toward Spruce Street and to his friend's house. The two of them walked to University Police headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street to file a report.
While he was being interviewed by University Police detectives, the student looked through the department's collection of mug shots, but was unable to identify the alleged robber.
"I was able to basically give them an idea of what he looked like," the student said. "They told me that if anyone was apprehended they'd contact me."
According to the student, he was asked to look at several individuals who had been picked up in the area, but could not identify his attacker.
The last armed robbery to strike campus was last month, when two masked men allegedly tied up an employee of the Houston Market in the basement of Houston Hall at 3417 Spruce Street, making off with $8,000.
