‘How would I react in that situation?’: UMKC students alarmed after armed robbery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - UMKC police are looking for a man who robbed a woman at gunpoint on campus.

According to authorities, this happened around 4:40 a.m. A man wearing all black and a black mask approached a woman on the ground floor of the Education Building and demanded money. He was armed with a black pistol. The woman complied, and the man left the area.

A spokesperson for UMKC told KCTV5 that this was an isolated situation.

“Safety on campus is a top priority, and this is the first report of an armed robbery in more than 15 years on the Volker Campus. If you have any information on this incident, please call UMKC Police at 816-235-1515 and ask to speak with the supervisor on duty,” the spokesperson said.

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KCTV5 spoke about the incident with two freshmen, Allie Ellsworth and Eliana Ross.

“Part of me isn’t surprised, but it’s also still a shock,” Ross said.

“There’s a lot fear and anxiety,” Ellsworth said.

They both have classes across the street from the Education Building and got alerts around 8 a.m., describing what happened.

“My first thought was, oh my gosh, do we have school today?” Ellsworth said. “As a young freshman girl, it’s something that I think about. Do I have my pepper spray on me? Do I have my Taser with me? How would I react in that situation?”

While authorities won’t go into detail about how the man was able to get into the building, Ellsworth and Ross said they would like to see tighter security systems.

“It’s the ability that it can happen so easily,” Ellsworth said. “I think it should be set up the same way as the dorms are. Your student ID should be able to access all the buildings where you have classes.”

But overall, the students said they feel safe and thankful that no one got hurt.

“We don’t want him to come into the music building; we obviously don’t want him to come into any of the buildings again, and we just want him caught,” Ellsworth said.

UMKC also sent out safety tips for students:

• We want to remind you to be attentive to your surroundings at all times – whether on campus, shopping or at home.
• Avoid walking or running alone at night. Always walk in well-lit areas.
• If you feel threatened or suspect someone is following you, call 911 for help.
• Individuals should always trust their instincts. If an individual feels uneasy or senses something is wrong, they should do what they can to get out of the situation.
• Have a companion or a safe means of getting home, such as a trusted friend or taxi.
• UMKC offers the Rave Guardian app, which turns any smartphone into a personal safety device. Call 816-235-1716 for details on the app.
• Walk with others or make arrangements to leave a destination with others.
• Check in with a friend or family member and let them know that you are leaving/arriving, so they are aware of any plans.

Crime prevention tips, as well as informational workshops, may be obtained by contacting the crime prevention office of the UMKC Police Department at 816-235-1515 or visiting the UMKC Police website.

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