An unarmed man attempted to rob an Eastern Michigan University student of his handgun Thursday morning while he walked on Pearl Street near the campus in Ypsilanti, university officials said.

According to an email alert sent out by EMU, the student — an open-carry advocate — was walking at about 9:15 a.m. in the 300 block of Pearl Street when he was approached by an unknown man. The man grabbed the student’s holstered handgun and attempted to wrestle it away from the student, according to the alert.

Another person walking by the area came to the student’s aid and was able to secure the handgun, EMU said in the statement.

The suspect fled the area on foot, and no one was reported to be injured.

The man is described as black and in his early 20s, with a thin build and a beard. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, red shirt, dark pants and gray and orange tennis shoes.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.