Cal State Fullerton Police Department is investigating an assault reported early Wednesday morning near campus. A CSUF student employee reported that while walking from an off-campus neighborhood to his on-campus job, he was approached at 7:25 a.m. by a man jogging on State College Boulevard near Gym Drive and questioned about his COVID-19-related mask. The student employee said the jogger punched him repeatedly and then ran north on State College Boulevard.
The male student ran to campus and into the university’s police department building where he was assisted by officers and treated by the Fullerton Fire Department for a minor injury.
The suspect was described in his late 20s, between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, with short brown hair and facial stubble, and wearing a gray, long-sleeved shirt and red sweatpants. No photos or videos are available at this time.
Anyone who witnessed the reported incident is asked to contact the Cal State Fullerton Police Department at (657) 278-2903.
Several hours after an interview with university police, the victim posted on social media that after the altercation, the suspect shouted a racial slur at him. This information was not originally reported to police, but was provided when the student employee was interviewed by police a second time, the morning after he made the social media post.
If the incident is determined to be racially motivated, CSUF will convene a team to provide further support for the student employee and put other timely processes in motion that center around the university’s commitment to safety and inclusion.
“Cal State Fullerton is committed to providing a safe, inclusive campus community where violence or threats of violence are not tolerated,” said Fram Virjee, president of Cal State Fullerton. “This reported incident, along with the uptick in hate and violence around our nation, provides a reminder to us all to stand tall and work tirelessly to eradicate systemic injustices and racism while listening intently and with great care to those among us who continue to suffer these indignities.”