A Wheaton College student was kidnapped at gunpoint on the morning of Aug. 26 outside of a Glen Ellyn Starbucks. The student was identified as a 21-year-old male wearing a Colorado Rockies baseball hat. No further identifying information has been released.
According to an email sent by Wheaton College Public Safety last week, the student was taken at gunpoint and was forced to withdraw funds from several ATMs in the Chicagoland area. He was released hours later in downtown Chicago, unharmed. The attack was believed to be “random” and there is no ongoing threat to the campus. The Chicago Tribune stated the suspects pocketed over $1,500 during the incident.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 7, two arrests had been made in the case. Abeet Ramos, 18, and an unnamed 17-year-old Elgin juvenile have both been charged with aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery. Jeremy Jones, 23, is still at large and a reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
In an interview with The Wheaton Record, chief of Public Safety Bob Norris said he could not remember something of this magnitude ever happening to a Wheaton student.
Public Safety was not involved during the situation, but Norris said that the college does have an up to date policy and procedure for missing persons as outlined in the Annual Security Report under the Clery Act.
Glen Ellyn is ranked as safer than 53 percent of U.S. cities by Neighborhood Scout, with odds of becoming a victim of violent crime a slim one in 1,157 persons. Despite the relatively safe locale, Wheaton students were reminded via email to always be cautious and aware of their surroundings.
“We live in Chicago. Chicago’s a violent city,” said Norris. “You don’t have to go very far away to find people that really don’t value human life.”