A group of men, one with a gun, attempted to rob a man walking on Pickens Street at 1 a.m. Sunday, according to police.
The man was approached by three black men in a white sedan on the 700 block of Pickens Street — near the Women’s Quad — early Sunday morning. The man was walking alone on the sidewalk when the car pulled up next to him. One man in the car repeatedly asked for cigarettes before exiting the car and taking out a gun. The victim ran away as soon as he saw the weapon; he was not hurt and nothing was stolen.
The USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety released a crime alert about the incident around 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The Columbia Police Department could not confirm whether the victim was a USC student.
The suspect with the gun was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, according to descriptions provided to police. One of the car’s passengers was wearing a white jacket and an “NY hat.” There was no further description of the second passenger.
Anyone with further information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Columbia Police Department, the USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety or CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-888-CRIME-SC.