STARKVILLE – Starkville Police are investigating a Sunday morning robbery of a 21-year-old woman.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., a white female was walking alone, east on University Drive. When she approached the intersection of University Drive and Old West Point Road, she heard footsteps behind her and was robbed at gun point of her purse and cell phone, SPD Sgt. Steven Gant said.
The woman was unharmed and ran to a nearby apartment complex to report the robbery to the police.
Gant could not confirm if the victim is a Mississippi State University student.
The suspect fled on foot, east on University Drive and was spotted by another pedestrian on Lumus Drive in the Cotton District.
The SPD is looking for a black male, approximately 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds. The suspect is described as having medium-to-dark complexion, a clean-shave, short hair and possibly in his early ”20s. He was wearing a red T-shirt and dark shorts.
The robbery is the second incident in almost the exact same location as an attempted sexual assault on a jogger at 5:15 a.m. Sept. 12. Then, a woman was dragged by a black male under the University Drive bridge just east of the Old West Point Road-University Drive intersection.
Starkville Police Chief David Lindley said the SPD has leads but didn”t provide details.
In the meantime, he encouraged people to walk with company in the area until the SPD makes progress on the case.
“We”re trying to determine if attacks are related,” Lindley said, “but nevertheless we don”t want anyone else being victimized. People need to use caution and not allow themselves to be caught in that situation.”
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