At approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, May 22, 2023, Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault. Upon officers’ arrival, a victim reported that while walking on Gordon Road, towards Shad Hall, they passed an unknown male suspect yelling obscenities. Moments later, the suspect returned to the area wielding a screw driver, lunged at the victim, and threatened to kill them. The victim was not injured during the assault and de-escalated the situation until the suspect fled the immediate area. Officers conducted a search of the surrounding area for the suspect with negative results.
The suspect is described as a White male, 28 to 35 years old, approximately 5’5” tall, medium build, red beard, last seen wearing a blue hoodie, khaki pants, blue baseball cap, khaki shoes, with a black backpack and blue bag.
The HUPD is actively investigating this aggravated assault and increasing high visibility patrols in and around campus. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Harvard University Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 617-495-1796.
If at any time, you observe any type of suspicious activity or experienced a violent offense, please notify the Harvard University Police Department immediately at 617-495-1212 (Cambridge Campus) or 617-432-1212 (Longwood Campus.) Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are encouraged to store the HUPD’s urgent number in their phone.
If you have experienced harm or been the victim of a crime, and would like information on available resources both on and off campus, please visit www.hupd.harvard.edu/personal-and-violent-crime.
The Harvard University Police Department wants to remind students, faculty, staff, and visitors that we are located in a thickly settled area and share many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. Community members should be vigilant while walking throughout campus and surrounding areas both during the day and at night, and to take the appropriate precautions, such as walking with others and utilizing walking escorts, taxi escorts (Longwood campus), the shuttle bus, and evening van services whenever possible. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors also may call the Harvard University Police Department at 617-495-1212 if they believe they are in danger while waiting for transportation. Additional safety, escort, and transportation information can be found at www.hupd.harvard.edu/your-role-staying-safe.
If you suspect you are being followed, stay away from dimly lit areas and head for a building that you know to be open. Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about someone near you, head for a populated area and call the Harvard University Police Department.
For more detailed information on safety and security, please read the Harvard University Police Department's Annual Security Report, which can be found at www.hupd.harvard.edu/annual-security-report.
For questions about this advisory, please contact the Harvard University Police Department's Public Information Officer, Steven G. Catalano, at 617-495-9225 or by email at steven_catalano@hupd.harvard.edu.
Disseminated at 3:45 PM on May 22, 2023