A UW-Madison student and staff member walking near campus were robbed at gunpoint early Wednesday, the latest attack in a string of violent robberies to hit the downtown area.
According to a police report, the incident occurred at 1:39 a.m., when the male victims - a 24-year-old student and a 22-year-old staff member - were walking on a bike path near Charter Street when a man approached them, displayed a handgun and demanded money.
Madison Police Department public information officer Joel DeSpain said one victim opened his wallet to show the robber that he didn't have any money while the other victim ran off. The perpetrator chased the second victim, caught up with him and took money from him. Neither victim sustained any injuries in the robbery.
The perpetrator then fled and got into the passenger side of a dark blue Buick or Cadillac with tinted windows and chrome stripes along both sides and along the rear bumper. DeSpain said the incident does have similarities to a rash of other recent downtown robberies police say are aimed at UW-Madison students, faculty and staff.
We're looking to see if this case [Wednesday] is linked to one or more of the other cases we're already taking a look at,"" DeSpain said.
Police describe the perpetrator as a black male, 6'0"" to 6'2"" and 200 to 240 pounds, with ""bulging eyes,"" black bushy eyebrows and a distinct jawline. He was last seen wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and a black baseball cap with the letters ""NY"" in white on the front.
