COLUMBUS – Ohio State University police issued a campus public safety notice Thursday following two related incidents, which were both classified as hate crimes.
Officers who responded to a report of a fight in progress near the intersection of W. 12th Avenue and College Road at 11:00 p.m. a student reported that, while he was walking along the west side of High Street, an unknown Black male standing across the street yelled a racial slur, according to the advisory.
The two exchanged words and police say the suspect ran toward the victim, who was white, and punched him.
The victim left the area before seeking help for his injuries.
Two other students, who were also white, approached officers who responded to the scene and reported a similar incident, which happened about the same time, police said.
The man and woman said a Black female pulled up next to them in a Honda sedan in the area near Chittenden Avenue and yelled the same slur, police said.
The students walked away but were either followed or later encountered the same vehicle near the Ohio Union at 12th Avenue where police say the female driver got out of the car and attacked the female student while a male, believed to be the suspect in the other incident, appeared and struck the male student.
The two victims got away went into the Ohio Union and call for help.
No injuries were reported.
Police are asking anyone who was in the area and witnessed these incidents, or who may have information, to call The Ohio State University Police Division at 614-292-2121.