An aggravated robbery occurred near the Student Disability Center on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at approximately 12:30AM, according to a UH Security Alert. The perpetrator is still unidentified, and this is the 3rd armed robbery in the school year, 2nd this month, leading students to continue raising concerns about on-campus safety.
The victim states that while walking from the Welcome Center Garage to her dorm, she was approached by the male suspect with a handgun and subsequently complied with his request to send him money via CashApp.
The suspect then took the victim’s smartphone and wallet and fled the scene, going east.
He wore a ski mask and is described as a thin, 5 ‘6 Black male wearing a gray Nike sweater, light blue skinny jeans, and white Nike sneakers in addition.
Senior, desk assistant, and VP of NABA, Mackenzie Askew, took to her story early that morning to share her experiences with the area and decry the notoriously poor lighting of the school.
“I walk this 3-minute trail when I get off of work at random times in the night. UH is not doing anything to protect students because that trail has terrible lighting. Thank goodness I have one semester left because this is getting ridiculous.”
Askew revealed to Paperboy that she is close to the victim and says the victim was “shaken up” when the robbery happened, and seeking comfort in another close friend alleviated some of the shock.
She adds, “UH needs to do better with protecting its students, emphasize the security escorts, and get better lighting like they said we would,” referring to the in development $18 million security project. “They really need to give students pepper spray.”
Bauer Junior Quynh Cao expressed shock that it happened again this month, not that it happened at all.
“I think it’s crazy,” she said. “Wasn’t the bank at the student center robbed? The area I used to walk around pretty regularly is never lit up so I’m not surprised it happened.”
Cao thinks the school should take these things more seriously and police cars scattered around aren’t enough of a deterrent. Other students feel the same way, like NABJ member Lundan Sherrod, who said that the vehicles are sometimes empty.
Sherrod shared that he watched a group of girls lock arms and use their flashlights to guide them during the night.
“This is the reality at UH,” said Sherrod. “Our young women are afraid, and many people have to walk at night thinking: ‘Will something happen to me tonight?’. There should be no reason why the stadium lights can be seen from Moody Towers, but the path to your living quarters is pitch black. Something has to change.”
The Welcome Center police substation that has been in the works since Oct. 22nd will open Jan. 20th.
Students can use the UHGO app to request a safety escort, location tracking emergency call, and The Daily Crime Log can be used to track on-campus incidents.
Any tips about the suspect’s whereabouts should be reported to the correct authorities.
Delivered by Shekinah Abolo
