Southeastern Louisiana University Police arrested a 19-year-old from Jackson, Mississippi, who allegedly abducted and raped a student at gunpoint. SLU Police Chief Michael Beckner says Demetris Harris was trolling campus before he abducted his victim from a parking lot on the edge of campus.
“Just looking at the past history of his travels around campus the last couple of days, it looks to be actually a random attack,” said Beckner.
Harris was arrested Thursday afternoon at an apartment in Hammond. Beckner says they believe he just moved to the area with a relative. The suspect is not a student.
Beckner says the attack took place Thursday morning after the student pulled into a campus parking lot.
“She exited her vehicle, he pulled up behind her, ordered her to his vehicle at gunpoint,” said Beckner.
Beckner says through the help of surveillance video they released a picture of the suspect’s vehicle and a license plate number.
He says they made an arrest four hours after receiving a report about a sexual assault on campus.
“They were looking for the vehicle in the area and got a tip from a community member, said they saw the vehicle parked in the apartment complex,” said Beckner.
Beckner says this is an isolated incident on campus known for being safe.
Harris is not a student at the school.
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