Fourth-year College students Josh Hailey and Emily Sigmon were assaulted Friday night walking on 15th Street NW from the Corner.
According to the police report, between 11:30 p.m. and midnight Friday, Hailey and Sigmon were approached by a lone man who had been walking down the street towards the two. They were robbed at gunpoint, and Hailey was shot in his right leg on the 300 block of 15th Street.
According to Sigmon, she handed the man her purse when he demanded it.
The man then said, "'give me what you got,'" Hailey recalled.
According to Hailey, he grabbed for his wallet and held it open so that the assailant could take it.
The man then shot Hailey in the leg above the ankle with a small handgun and took Hailey's wallet and ran away.
Hailey speculated that the perpetrator was either being impatient or wished to immobilize him.
Sigmon and Hailey called 911 at 11:39 p.m.
An ambulance took the two to the University Hospital where doctors determined that Hailey's lower right fibula was shattered. The bullet traveled through his lower right leg and exited his body.
"The recent incident is a reminder that even in Charlottesville, which is an overall safe community, incidents of crime and violence do occur," University Spokesperson Carol Wood said.
University officials suggested precautionary measures to ensure student safety in light of Friday's incident.
"We want to emphasize how important it is to be careful at night, to be walking with people, to think about where you're going," Vice President of Student Affairs Pat Lampkin said. "Try not to walk too late at night. Use lit pathways if you're on Grounds."
Hailey and Sigmon said they felt there was little they could have done to prevent the incident.
"I think that's something that could have happened anywhere," Sigmon said.
Police are currently unable to relate Friday's armed robbery to other crimes that have taken place near the University.
"We've had other robberies along the West Main Street corridor, but not in that particular location on 15th Street," Charlottesville Police Sergeant Stephen Upman said.
According to a police report, the man was black, 18 to 26 years of age, between 5-feet-8-inches and 5-feet-10-inches and between 160 and 180 pounds. In the report Hailey and Sigmon described the man as not overweight, clean shaven, of light complexion and wearing a black skull cap, a black puffy waist-length jacket and jeans at the time of the crime.
"He didn't have very distinguishing features," said Sigmon.
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