Northwestern University officials say a female student was robbed while walking on the Evanston campus shortly before 5 a.m. today.
A report on the university’s website says the victim was walking near Bobb Hall at 2305 Sheridan Road with another student when two youths approached them, displayed a handgun and demanded their purses.
One woman handed over her purse, but as the other started to do so, her purse strap broke, and the robbers fled without it.
The women, who were not injured, described the robbers as teenage black males, 5-foot-8 to 5-feet-9 inches tall, with thin builds and wearing baggy clothes.
Update noon 4/7/08: The Chicago Tribune reports Chicago police are holding three suspects in connection with the robbery.