Victims punched, burned with cigarette in robbery near Univ. of Minnesota

Two people, including a University of Minnesota student, were punched and burned with a cigarette in a robbery near the East Bank campus on the Fourth of July. While technically an off-campus crime, the mugging happened in the heart of Stadium Village.

According to a University of Minnesota crime alert, the victims were approached by two men and one woman near the intersection of Ontario Street SE and Washington Avenue SE at about 11:05 p.m. One of the suspects burned the male victim on the arm with a cigarette and second suspect punched him in the face. At the same time, a third suspect punched the female victim and demanded their valuables.

The suspects stole a backpack and a phone before running down Ontario Street. Police do not have detailed suspect descriptions to release at this time.

Neither victim was seriously injured in the assault.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Minneapolis Police tip line at 612-692-8477 and reference case number MP-15-247307.