CMU students received a “Timely Warning” last Thursday informing them of an armed robbery in the 1200 block of Texas Avenue on Jan. 28.

Police Information Coordinator Kate Porras said, “The two victims were students employed by a company that has a contract with CMU and were leaving work that night.”

The students were approached by two suspects, described in the warning as “a Hispanic male, 5-foot-seven-inches to 5 foot 10 inches tall, 140-160 ponds 18-20 years old, wearing a gray ‘hoodie’ with the hood over his head and blue jeans.  The second suspect was described as a Black male, 5 foot seven inches to 5 foot ten inches tall, 140-160 pounds, 18-20 years old.”

Though the warning mentioned a 4 to 5-inch knife carried by the Hispanic suspect, it made no indication of whether or not the students had been harmed or what, if anything, was taken.

“After the suspects left the area, the victims called 911, and the officers responded,” Porras said. “The call came in at about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28.”

Both suspects are believed to have arrived at the scene in a dark Jeep Grand Cherokee, estimated 2007 in year, and distinguished by round lights on the front grill guard. The warning indicates that the vehicle may have been in the 1100 block of Belford Avenue hours prior to the incident.

When asked why the “Timely Warning” had taken two days to be delivered to students, Porras explained that the police department takes special care in piecing together what happened to provide the most accurate information to students.

“Once our officers are able to determine that an incident rises to the level of needing a Timely Warning Notification, they work with CMU staff to get the information out,” Porras said. “The decision about when to make a notification as well as what information it contains is a collaborative effort between the police department and CMU and is a careful balance between providing important information to the public while also protecting the investigation and not providing information that would tip off the criminals about what we are doing.”

According to the warning, “Members of the campus community are urged to take normal personal safety precautions such as locking their rooms, even when home, walking with a buddy or other known students, walking in well lit and well traveled areas, securing all personal items while walking and reporting all suspicious persons and activity to police.”

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Grand Junction Police Department at (970) 242-6707.

cferganc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu