A man attempted to stab a female Marquette University student at the entrance of Sendik’s Fresh2GO April 15 around 11 a.m, according to university spokesperson Kevin Conway and one employee who witnessed the incident. The student, who was exiting the grocery store at that time, was not injured and was offered support from the CARE Team, Conway told the Marquette Wire.
A Sendik’s employee who asked to remain unnamed said they saw the suspect flee to the parking lot after attempting to stab the student twice. Two university workers then contacted the Marquette University Police Department, Conway said.
Campus police arrived at the scene within two minutes to arrest the subject, Conway told the Marquette Wire. A Sendik’s employee said the man was pacing back and forth in the parking lot before police arrived. According to a university statement, the man was not affiliated with the university and was exhibiting “signs of severe mental distress.”
According to the MUPD crime log, the suspect was also bail jumping — a criminal offense when a defendant on bail intentionally fails to appear at a mandatory court hearing.
The Wire requested the police report and call data from the Marquette University Police Department. Campus police denied the request, stating the investigation is ongoing.
The university did not send out a safety alert — a message sent if there is an active threat to campus — at the time of the incident. Conway said this was because the suspect was taken into custody within minutes and remains in custody.
University leaders are assessing strategies to address mental health crises on campus, Conway said.
The attempted stabbing follows a Feb. 18 robbery and sexual assault of a female Marquette student on the 900 block of 14th Street, just blocks away from the Sendik’s grocery store. 34-year-old Tedrick A. Boone was charged with the assault and pleaded not guilty on April 19.
One month later, on March 18, there was a vandalization incident at the Church of the Gesu, a man claiming to be God caused $50,000 of damage to the church’s doors on April 5. Both incidents happened within six months of the church reopening after a yearlong renovation, which included new flooring, a new baptismal font and upgraded security measures.
This is a developing story that has been updated with new information.
This story was written by Mia Thurow, Sophia Tiedge and MaryKate Stepchuk.
