After a University of Virginia student escaped an attempted abduction on October 4, law enforcement officials, community members, and students are reevaluating safety on and around Grounds.
Charlottesville Police Department received a call about an incident near the intersection of Cabell and Grady avenues at approximately 9:40pm on October 4. At the scene, officers found a female victim who reported being strangled and dragged into a car, before escaping when the abductor crashed his vehicle into multiple cars and a tree in the yard of a fraternity house.
At this time, the identity of the victim is unknown, but she is in stable condition after being treated at UVA Hospital.
Though the victim did not recognize her attacker, investigators quickly identified James Allen of Suffolk as a suspect. Allen fled the scene of the crash on foot and was captured at approximately 12:11pm the next day in Louisa County.
Before police arrived, UVA professor Robert Emery and his family intervened in the attempted abduction when they heard sounds of a struggle outside their house. While his wife called 911, Emery rushed outside. “A man appeared from behind the truck, told me I was interfering and was clearly in a panic,” he told CBS19. “[He] then immediately jumped into the truck and drove down the street as fast as he could, crashing at the end of the street.”
Thanking community members, the media, and his law enforcement peers on October 5, CPD Chief Michael Kochis, along with UPD Chief Timothy Longo, expressed relief that Allen had been captured.
“Thank god this young lady is safe,” said Longo. “She’s going to work through this with a lot of support and a lot of love.”
For now, Allen is being held in custody without bond, with a hearing scheduled for December 14.
Though Kochis emphasized that Charlottesville is “a safe community,” Longo reminded students to be vigilant. “My message to the students is continue to be resilient,” he said. “This is a safe place, but it’s also an evil world. Evil takes all forms and looks like all people.”
Students found out about the incident through an off-Grounds community alert from the University Police Department at 1:14am on October 5, just over three hours after CPD responded to the scene. When asked about the timing of the alert, Meg Rapp, assistant vice president for Clery Act compliance and youth protection, said the alert was sent as soon as possible, given the complicated nature of the incident.
Under the Clery Act, the university is required to notify students about incidents that occur on Grounds, but can choose whether or not to alert the community to events that occur off Grounds.
“The situation was very fluid, which meant getting accurate information was challenging,” says Rapp. “Upon confirmation of certain information from the responding agency, the university did make the decision to release a community alert to UVA students, faculty, and staff on October 5.”
While most students reportedly feel safe on and around Grounds, the attempted abduction has prompted a few to take extra precautions.
“I don’t personally feel unsafe, but I can understand that there are people who maybe are concerned about it,” says first-year Conwell Morris. “I’m definitely making sure that I’m walking with some of my friends when they’re going places.”
In addition to walking in groups, students are using their phones to stay safe.
“I usually feel pretty safe. The only times where I get a little sketched out is when it’s late at night on weekdays,” says fourth-year Jill Eberhardt. “I definitely tell all my roommates where I am whenever I’m walking home, and I try to drive when possible. I work at a bar so I have to walk home at like 2am all the time, and I always walk home with someone else.”
Others say the abduction has made them more aware of safety issues on Grounds, or highlighted previous concerns.
Though Julia Bianchetto feels safe walking with friends, the fourth-year student says the attempted abduction added to her concerns. “I mean, I think [safety’s] kind of always been an issue, but like recently, it’s definitely been spiked up a little.”
“I’m kind of in the middle about it,” says second-year Sierra Allen. “I live at Lambeth, I do think there should be more lights on the way over there. So, I’m not saying I’m totally scared, but I’m definitely more alert walking at night.”
For students interested in safety training, UVA offers risk-reduction programs and seminars through the UPD.