Azusa Pacific University's East Campus briefly placed on lockdown as police search for armed robber
Police placed the Azusa Pacific University East Campus on lockdown as they searched for an armed robbery suspect on Tuesday.
In a letter shared with staff and students at the college, which was obtained by CBS News Los Angeles, campus police said that they received reports of a man jumping over the east Shire wall, located in the 900 block of E. Alosta Avenue.
"Around this time, the Azusa Police Department was responding to a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred in the Stater Brothers shopping center," the letter said. The shopping center is located in the 1100 block of E. Alosta Avenue.
Campus security said the description of the man who jumped the wall matched the description of the person who was last seen running from the shopping center towards campus.
In a community statement, campus police requested that the campus go on lockdown as they continued their search.
"APD is requesting anyone on Azusa East Campus to lockdown," police said at the time. "If you are on West Campus you are not under lockdown but please stay away from East Campus."
Investigators who were searching for the man said they found "discarded clothing on the exterior of I-Court," the letter said. "The clothing was collected as evidence by the Azusa Police Department."
Officers described the suspect as a man in his 30s. They said he was last seen wearing a white baseball hat with a blue trim, glasses, a white face mask and a tan top and bottoms with a black hoodie.
"All or parts of these clothing items were discarded by the suspect and collected as evidence," police said. "Suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous."
He was not located after officers determined he left the campus.
Upon reviewing CCTV camera footage, they saw the suspect attempting to force entry into a vacant Shire Mod which borders the Stater Brothers property about 10 minutes before the robbery occurred.
The lockdown was lifted at around 7 p.m.
Anyone who knows more is asked to contact APD at (626) 812-3200 or APU Campus Safety at (626) 815-5000.
