Updated as of 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 6 to include comment from the student who chased the subject out of Colonnades B.

Students reported a suspicious individual who followed someone into Colonnades B around 6:10 p.m. on Jan. 4, according to an Elon E-Alert message.

The subject, a male in his early 20s at approximately 5’9”, entered the building and opened a door to one room before being confronted by a student and leaving. He opened another door and was confronted again before being chased out of the building.

Campus police stated in the alert that the subject was in all black clothing, had a black backpack and wore a black cloth covering half their face.

The subject was seen running from the area into the wooded area toward Sheridan Place.

Junior Noah Alpert was the student who chased the subject out of the building. Alpert said he was in his room when they opened his door and tried to come in. After seeing him immediately, Alpert said he ran after the subject with the intent of catching and tackling him. It wasn’t until Alpert lost him in the woods behind Colonnades B that he called the police.

“I wasn't really thinking about my safety at the time, I just thought about catching this guy,” Alpert said.

Alpert also said he was surprised this incident happened so soon after students came back to campus from winter break.

“Maybe people start taking a little bit more precaution around themselves,” Alpert said. “Don't let it being the first day back underscore that you should keep your head on a swivel.”


Anyone with information about this incident should call Campus Police at 336-278-5555.

Colonnades B resident Emmy Beauvais said she was alone in her room when she got the E-Alert message. Beauvais said she felt scared and was just waiting for another update from the university with little communication from her resident assistant.

“People were texting my floor group chat about it,” Beauvais said. “My RA texted and she just said to lock the doors and not let anyone in.”

Freshman Paul Nunno said seeing the E-Alert message on the first day of Winter Term classes also surprised him. Nunno said while he feels safe walking around campus, now he will make sure to be more aware of his surroundings.

According to a campus police secretary, there are no officers available for immediate comment as they are all out investigating the incident.