MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minneapolis robbery investigators were back on the scene on Monday hoping to find surveillance video of a vicious early morning attack.

“They were on their way home, walking across the Hennepin Avenue bridge,” robbery Sergeant, Jesse Garcia said.

The two University of Minnesota roommates were walking home just after midnight Sunday from downtown Minneapolis. When they got to the corner of University Avenue NE and Hennepin Avenue NE, a man with a knife demanded their cash.

“They couldn’t have done anything else, walking in pairs in a well-lit area. And he just came up from behind, grabbed one of the girls around the chest and held a knife to her throat and demanded money,” Garcia said.

They handed over all the cash they had — a $5 bill. Unsatisfied, the aggravated robbery suspect stabbed one of the women in the back, puncturing her lung. He then lunged at the other woman, stabbing her in the arm and severing an artery.

Her roommate, despite being wounded herself, quickly took off her shirt and used it as a tourniquet to stop the severe bleeding.

“It’s horrible, it’s definitely really bad and I wouldn’t expect it to happen here,” Melissa Schmit, who was shopping in the area, said.

Those who come to the area frequently are both shocked and upset, saying that a revitalized part of town isn’t immune from the reach of dangerous crime.

“There’s so much traffic in the area, it’s just really mind boggling. You just don’t expect it in northeast, especially not here,” Julie Helgeson said.

Minneapolis police officers are also meeting with area business owners and neighborhood associations. They describe the aggravated robbery as both unusual and random.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or text TIP674 plus your information to 274637 (CRIMES).

All callers are given a unique identifier and no names will be used. Those providing helpful information may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.