by TODD BOWMAN
All four University Heights apartment complex residents involved in the Monday, Dec. 1, armed robbery are Shepherd University students, and several, if not all, were Shepherd University baseball players, according to Jefferson County Sheriff, Peter Dougherty.
“We believe there are some ties to the community with the people involved in the crime… several, if not all four, were Shepherd baseball players,” Sheriff Peter Dougherty said in a telephone interview.
Matt McCarty, head baseball coach at Shepherd, refused to comment on the incident during an attempted phone interview.
Dougherty confirmed that they are now looking for six suspects after reviewing the video security footage from the complex.
“The video footage at the complex has been substantial at helping investigators… it was extremely incredible footage,” Brad Lewis, property manager of University Heights, said.
The robbery occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. at the complex off Hensel Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.
Moments after receiving a phone call reporting the robbery, Lewis was able to access the footage from his laptop from home and provide information to the sheriff’s office.
“(The suspects) had a purpose… they were here and gone,” Lewis said.
Lewis could not confirm, but he believed that two residents were moving out, but all four were still under contract until May.
Lewis said that the suspects did $750 in damage to the property. He is proud of his maintenance staff that had the apartment door replaced by 8:30 a.m. the morning after the incident.
“We hope this is an isolated event and never happens again,” Lewis said.
Sheriff Dougherty continues to urge students and citizens with information to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office.