Officials said the incident was reported around 4:30 a.m. at Freret and Broadway streets, the Tulane University Police Department said.

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WEBVTT HE TOLD HER, I HAVE A GUN AND DON'T RESIST. >> AT THE INTERSECTION OF BROADWAY AND FERRET -- >> THAT SEEMS VERY EXTREME AND SCARY. >> POLICE SAY THE DRIVER FORCED THE WOMAN INTO THE BACKSEAT OF A SILVER CAR HE WAS DRIVING. >> I'M SURE THAT'S VERY TRAUMATIZING TO SORT OF GO THROUGH. I ALSO FEEL BADLY BECAUSE IT SEEMS SHE WAS ALONE OBVIOUSLY THAT THAT HAPPENED. >> POLICE SAID THE DRIVER HEADED TOWARDS THE INTERSTATE AFTER HE GOT THE STUDENT IN THE CAR. >> IT'S REALLY SAD THAT THIS HAD TO HAPPEN WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDABLE WHEN YOU TRAVEL IN GROUPS. >> HE THOUGHT SHE WAS A PROSTITUTE AND DEMANDED SEX FROM HER. >> POLICE SAID SHE BEGGED TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO CAMPUS. >> TO SEE IT HAPPEN TO EARLY IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, IT'S SCARY. >> THE SUSPECT BROUGHT THE STUDENT TO THE 8200 BLOCK OF WILLOW. INVESTIGATORS SAID HE SLAPPED HER BUTTOCKS AND DROVE OFF. >> THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ARMED ROBBERIES. THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AND THIS IS WAY MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT I EXPECTED. >> FOLLOWING THE KIDNAPPING, EVERY STUDENT SAY THEY PLAN TO TRAVEL IN GROUPS. >> IT DEFINITELY MAKES ME THINK MORE AND PROBABLY NEXT TIME I GO

Advertisement Tulane student forced into vehicle, kidnapped by unknown driver early Sunday Officials said the incident was reported around 4:30 a.m. at Freret and Broadway streets, the Tulane University Police Department said. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Tulane police are searching for a man who they said kidnapped a student early Sunday in Uptown and demanded sex from her before taking her back to campus. Tulane University Police Department said the incident was reported around 4:30 a.m. at Freret and Broadway streets. Investigators said a Tulane student was walking in the area when a silver-colored, passenger-style vehicle pulled up next to her and stopped. The student said the driver got out of the vehicle, approached her and told her, "I have a gun, don't resist." The student said she was forced into the back seat of the vehicle. Officials said the driver left the area in an unknown direction until he reached the interstate. WDSU spoke with students who said they will travel in groups from now on. "That's very traumatizing," Bronwyn Olstein said. "I also feel badly because it seems like she was alone. I'm sure she was really scared. It makes me think more and probably next time I go out, I'm definitely going to be more aware of my surroundings and who I'm with." Another student said he's glad the student is safe. "It's kind of crazy to think how worse that could have gone," Noah Shapiro said. "She could have been raped or killed." David Loeb said he's disappointed about what happened. "It's just really sad that this had to happen," Loeb said. "It could have been easily avoidable if you just travel in groups." "We haven't had anything like this happen yet," Howie Weinstock said. "To see it happen so early in the school year, it's just kind of scary." As the man was driving, he told the student he thought she was a prostitute and demanded sex from her, police said. The victim told him she is a student at Tulane. The student pleaded for the man to release her and bring her back to campus. Police said that when the man reached Interstate 10 and Causeway Boulevard, he turned the vehicle around and drove to the 8200 block of Willow Street. Detectives said the student was let out of the car, but as she got out of it, the man slapped her on the buttock and left. Investigators said the driver is a black man with a light complexion. He is in his mid-30s, has a heavy build and is bald-headed. He is about 6 feet tall and was last seen wearing blue jeans and an unknown colored polo-style shirt. Police were not able to obtain a clear description of the vehicle he was driving. "There have been a lot of armed robberies which honestly scare me a lot because that can happen to anyone," Ben Gertz said. "This is just way more than anything I expected." Anyone with information is asked to call Tulane police at 504-865-5381, or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!