SHARE

By of the

Two male University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh students are recuperating at an area hospital after being seriously injured Friday night when they were stabbed while struggling with a robber a couple of blocks off campus, officials said Sunday.

The double stabbing was the fifth assault and/or robbery either on or within a few blocks of campus since Sept. 27, according to campus police. All of the incidents occurred between about 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. The description of the suspect in Friday night's incident is similar to the descriptions in three of the four other incidents.

That assailant is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing about 250 pounds with a buzz haircut. Friday night, he was wearing dark, baggy clothing.

UW-Oshkosh officials are reminding students to travel in groups, be aware of their surroundings, and stay in well-lighted areas when walking at night. They also are encouraging students to take advantage of Safewalk escorts by community service officers, available between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. nightly.

The number of requests for Safewalk escorts has doubled several nights in recent weeks, according to UW-Oshkosh Police Chief Joe LeMire. Students who are underage and have been drinking may receive an escort with no questions asked, he added.

"Four to five incidents clustered into a short period of time, and the escalation of violence, is unusual," LeMire said Sunday. "We have kicking and punching, showing of a weapon and stabbing with a bladed instrument."

The first incident occurred after midnight Sept. 27, when two men assaulted a male near the Arts & Communication Center on campus, according to LeMire. The victim had been at the library and was leaving when he was punched several times.

One suspect was described as 5 feet 10 inches and thin; the other was described as about 6 feet tall and weighing about 250 pounds with a buzz haircut. Nothing was stolen; the victim suffered bruises.

On Oct. 2, two people with descriptions similar to the Sept. 27 incident confronted a man about a half-block off campus — within a block of the first incident — and pushed him against his car, LeMire said. Property was stolen, and one of the assailants pulled back his jacket to reveal a gun in his waistband, the chief said.

Last Monday, shortly after midnight, a heavyset man confronted a male about a block off campus and kicked him in the body and head, LeMire said.

Thursday, a thin man with a handgun robbed two employees of JT's Wash & Mart three to four blocks off campus. Police are unsure whether it's the second of the two men involved in the recent incidents.

On Friday, police received a 911 call at 10:58 p.m. of a robbery that occurred five to six blocks from the Sept. 27 assault.

In the Friday attack, two male students were walking in the 400 block of W. Lincoln Ave. when one of them was confronted by the attacker, who took his cellphone. A struggle ensued and the robber stabbed the student whose cellphone was taken.

The second student gave chase into the 700 block of Wright St., where another struggle ensued and the second student also was stabbed.

The robber fled westbound on foot and has not yet been identified or apprehended.

In addition to taking advantage of the Safewalk program, LeMire advised students not to engage an assailant "with words of criticism or confrontational words."

While two students walking together were attacked Friday night, LeMire said walking in pairs or a group is still better than walking alone.

"They seek out people walking alone," he said. "Be vigilant about situational awareness. Pay attention to what's going on around you. They seek people who appear vulnerable."

UW-Oshkosh Interim Chancellor Petra Roter issued a statement to students, staff and faculty over the weekend, promising to provide updates as they become available.

"Like you, we are concerned by the recent, uncharacteristic rash of crime and violence in a neighborhood east of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh," Roter said.

"Victims are never responsible for the violence perpetrated against them," she added.

Roter noted that students, staff and faculty can sign up at http://emergency.uwosh.edu to receive text messages with critical incident and safety details through the Titan Alert system. The system also allows the university to put messages and updates on Twitter and Facebook.

The university offers safety tips at http://www.uwosh.edu/up and safety resources by downloading a free UW Oshkosh mobile app.

Anyone with information on Friday night's stabbings or any of the other incidents is asked to contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700. Anyone with information wishing to remain anonymous may contact Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477 or text IGOTYA and the crime tip to 274637, or go to: http://www.winnebagocrimestoppers.organd submit a text via the web.