Campus alert for CNU after Newport News robbery

NEWPORT NEWS

A robbery at a credit union across from Christopher Newport University this morning prompted school officials to send out a campus alert to students.

The alert instructed students on campus to lock themselves inside an interior room, barricade the door and draw the blinds. Students who were not on campus when the robbery occurred were told to stay away.

The robbery happened shortly before 9 a.m. at the Virginia Educators Credit Union at 12368 Warwick Blvd. at Campus Village, according to the alert and to Newport News Police spokesman Officer Harold Eley. The armed man forced the staff to open a safe and took cash before fleeing the credit union.

The shops are located on property owned by the Christopher Newport University Real Estate Foundation and is leased by the university. Some of the shops have housing above them. 

No injuries were reported, Eley said.

The alert was sent as a precaution, he added. The last update sent was at 9:06 a.m. The all-clear was given shortly after 10 a.m.

Eley said investigators recovered a weapon they believe was used in the robbery.

The man is described as black, 5 feet 8 to 11 inches tall and 185 pounds. He was wearing a white or light colored shirt with a large design on the back and blue jeans. He carried a black backpack and wore white tennis shoes, white surgical gloves and a dark blue or black ball cap. He covered his face with a white shirt or rag.