A joint fraternity party was robbed Sunday at the Sigma Pi house between 1:30 and 1:40 a.m.
Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta Fraternities, Inc. joined together to host the Saturday night party. The event was nearly over when two robbers, one of whom had a gun, allegedly demanded the money collected for entrance, according to eyewitnesses. Organizers shut down the party immediately.
Charlottesville Police report that the suspects are described as two black males. The armed robber is described as being six feet tall with light skin, and was wearing a red rag on his head and a red bandana covering his face at the time of the robbery, as well as a white tee-shirt and blue jeans.
The other robber was described as wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. No further information about his appearance is available at this time, according to Charlottesville Police.
"There are no sketches for the robbers because they hid their faces," Charlottesville Police Sgt. Gary Dillon said.
Kwame Bodi, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Jason Bell, a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, were outside on the front porch of the Sigma Pi house, located at 1533 Virginia Avenue, when the alleged robbery occurred.
The robbers asked students where the money was located, according to Jake Greene, another member of Iota Phi Theta.
The robbers exclaimed, "Where's the money, where's the box?" Bodi said.
One of the robbers allegedly pointed a silver handgun at Bodi and Ball, asking for the money cash tray.
Organizers estimated the robbers took about $200 or $300.
"We didn't really hesitate to give them the money," Bodi said.
A third-year College student, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was exiting the party in search of her friends when the gunman turned around and pointed the gun at her.
"He didn't actually come at me; he was about seven feet away," she said. "He had his gun pointed towards me."
Her response was to reenter the house, the witness said.
"I ran back in the party," she said. "I didn't know if they left. I wanted to leave. I just wanted to find my friends and go."
The four fraternities were renting the Sigma Pi house for the party.
"We had already placed some money aside for the rent, so that is all taken care of," Bell said.
Alpha Phi Alpha member Julien Pope confirmed that the stolen money was not earmarked for the rent.
"We paid for everything," Pope said. "The party was just for U.Va. students to unwind after a week of protests."
The fraternities do not plan to change the manner in which they accept cash at parties significantly, organizers said.
"We'll be more careful about how we handle it and we'll have tighter security, but we probably won't change much else," said Bell.
The main concern for the fraternities is safety, Green said.
"It's just a shame that had to happen," Bell said. "Everyone was orderly. [The robbery] was the only problem, and Everyone is safe."
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