A fourth-year University student reported he was robbed at knifepoint early Sunday morning near the intersection of John and 14th Streets. Four suspects were arrested shortly thereafter in connection with the incident, Charlottesville Police Sgt. Steve Dillon said.
The suspects allegedly lured the 22-year-old student, who was not injured, toward their vehicle under the guise of asking for directions and robbed him of his wallet and cell phone instead, Dillon said.
"He was trying to be nice and helpful and these guys took advantage," Dillon said.
The victim phoned in the robbery to the police at 2:54 a.m. An officer spotted the car the student described shortly thereafter and apprehended the suspects without incident. Charlottesville Police officers also recovered the victim's cell phone from the suspects' vehicle, according to Dillon.
Four Charlottesville residents have been charged with crimes in conjunction with the robbery. Nineteen-year-old Gabriel Jose Molina Cerritos and 21-year-old Michael Anthony Young were charged with felony robbery. Both are now being held without bond.
Two 19-year-olds, Robert Stephen Clements and Terrance Savage Jr., were charged with misdemeanor accessory to robbery. Clements and Savage each were released on $2,500 bail.
Dillon said he was unsure if the incident is related to other recently reported robberies near the University.
"Right now, I'm sure [police officials] will probably have some more questions for these people, but right now I do not know," Dillon said.
In late February, several University students were victims of robberies in the Corner district, including an incident in which a student was shot in the leg. An arrest recently was made in that case.
In light of Sunday morning's incident, University Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Lampkin reinforced that students need to exercise good judgment when walking home at night and utilize University-provided transportation services, especially as the weather gets warmer.
Lampkin also said the University will provide assistance to the robbery victim.
"We have University sources to support the victim and people to make sure that the victim can access them," Lampkin said.
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