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String of Robberies Hits Tallahassee Colleges

By Ebonie Ledbetter
Black College Wire

Photo credit: Florida A&M University Two FAMU students were robbed of laptop computers near the campus' Paddyfote dormitory complex.

A robber stole laptops from two Florida A&M University students at gunpoint on the morning of Oct. 19 near the campus' Paddyfote dormitory complex.

About 2:30 a.m., Chantey Sessomes was sitting in a group of eight students on the steps near Paddyfote listening to music from laptops.

Seven other people were also in the area, said Sessomes, 18, a freshman business administration student from Baltimore. A lone male stood near the group talking on his cell phone, but Sessomes said he did not arouse the students' suspicions.

The robber then approached the students and pulled out his gun as he walked behind them.

Sessomes said he put his weapon to the backs of the students holding the laptops.

After receiving the machines, "He said, 'thank you' and took off jogging," Sessomes said. The robber then jumped into a nearby silver car.

The students called FAMU police, whose officers had just patrolled the area 15 minutes before the incident.

The robbery was the latest in an outbreak on Tallahassee campuses, prompting officials from the police departments at FAMU, Florida State University, Tallahassee Community College and the city of Tallahassee to work jointly on finding the perpetrators.

Many of the suspects are armed with handguns, Thomas Longo, Florida State's assistant chief of police, said.

Since Oct. 11, there have been six robberies, attempted robberies or burglaries; and seven battery offenses, according to the FAMU police crime log.

FAMU's police department is hoping to find out if individuals are "swinging from campus to campus committing crimes," Assistant FAMU PD Police Chief James W. Lockley Jr. said. FAMU's police have also issued crime alerts to students. "We want to keep these 'thugs' off campus," Lockley said.

Lockley spoke during homecoming week, when he said FAMU's police are especially proactive because there is a higher probability of crime.

Most crimes during homecoming week involve outsiders coming on FAMU's campus, said Sherri Luke, officer of crime prevention.

"More people means more activity and an increased chance of anything happening -- especially concentrated in a small area.

"Criminal activity in the city filters to the campuses," Luke said.

Lockley said students have a role in keeping the campus safe by looking out for suspicious happenings and calling FAMU PD.

"This is a safe campus," Lockley said. "We obviously can't be everywhere, but if you assist us in helping -- like the Neighborhood Watch -- we can make it safer."

Although some Tallahassee is a small city, Lockley said he did not want students to let their guard down.

"This is no different from the various homes and towns you come from," he said.

Ebonie Ledbetter, a student at Florida A&M University, is news editor of the Famuan. She can be contacted at [email protected]

Posted Oct. 24, 2005