Two suspects connected to an armed robbery in a dorm on the campus of the University of South Alabama Sunday are from Montgomery, according to USA Police Chief Zeke Aull.
One suspect is in custody. The second suspect is still being sought.
Chief Aull held a news conference Monday afternoon in which he announced 20-year-old Justin Sears' of Norman Bridge Road in Montgomery was arrested. He is currently charged with criminal trespassing third degree and robbery first degree. The police chief said Sears is not a student at USA. A criminal records check of Sears indicates a marijuana possession in the second degree charge from March.
The second suspect is believed to have left campus shortly after the incident. Information on that suspect is being withheld pending an arrest warrant, authorities said. Aull would confirm that the second suspect was also unaffiliated with USA.
Police say the victim in this case, a student living in the Delta 4 residence hall, called the two suspects and invited them to his room where he was planning to purchase marijuana from them. The victim told police the suspects entered the dorm with a firearm. They then stole approximately $1,000 and a cell phone from the victim before fleeing the scene. At least one shot was fired, according to officials, though there were no injuries reported.
WPMI-TV in Mobile reports that the suspects fled across the street into another dorm. One of the suspects disappeared, while Sears was apprehended by police with the help of some students.
A campus-wide alert went out, and the USA grounds were put on lockdown as authorities scrambled to find the suspects. A photo posted on the student newspaper website showed the view through a hallway window of a man holding what appeared to be a large weapon.
Officials sent out an alert at about 3 p.m. CDT. The school late Sunday urged students to "resume your normal activities but remain cautious and report any suspicious activity."
Justin Sears (Source: WPMI/NBC)
© Courtesy: USA Vanguard Student Newspaper
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