Two Notre Dame students were robbed at gunpoint when walking back to campus early Sunday morning, police said.
The students, Christopher Masoud, 18, and Patrick Coveney, 18, were heading north on Twyckenham Drive when they were approached by a man with a handgun, Captain Phil Trent of the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) said.
Police said the man was described as black, wearing black jeans and a brown hooded sweatshirt and with silver work on his upper front teeth. The man was described as appearing to be about 17 to 22 years old and holding a bottle of liquor.
Trent said the police report did not say if the students were intoxicated.
Both students live in Keough Hall and work for The Observer. Masoud writes for the Sports department and Coveney is photographer.
Coveney said the man approached them from the front and asked why they were being loud. Coveney said he attempted to pass the man when he pulled out a gun.
"He took a gun out of his waistband, pointed it at my stomach and cocked it," he said.
Coveney said he ran back to campus, so the man then turned on Masoud and asked for money.
"He pointed the gun at me and said how much money do you have," Masoud said. "I had $11 so I gave it to him."
Masoud said the man was not satisfied with the $11, so he told him to call Coveney, who was still running away, back to the scene. Masoud said he told the man Coveney did not have any money.
"He said 'this isn't good enough,'" Masoud said. "He pointed the gun at my head."
Masoud said he threw his jacket and cell phone on the ground when the attitude of the man completely changed. He said the man claimed he was only upset that the students were loud. The man put the gun in his pocket and shook hands with Masoud.
"He completely empathized with me," Masoud said.
The man then told Masoud he should call him sometime and put his number in Masoud's cell phone.
The man then left, and Masoud said he ran back to campus.
"He was definitely on something," Coveney said.
Initially, Coveney and Masoud said they did not report the robbery because they had been at a party off campus and did not want to get in trouble.
The next day though, the students told their rector, Fr. Peter McCormick, who reported the crime to Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP).
"Then we went to the South Bend Police station and filed a report," Coveney said.
Trent said that particular stretch of Twyckenham has not been problematic for robberies.
