On Thursday, October 12, 2017, at approximately 11:36 p.m., the NIU Police Department received a report that the DeKalb City Police Department is investigating an off-campus armed robbery that occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. in the area of the 1300 block of West Lincoln Highway. The victim reported to police that they were robbed at gunpoint.
No injuries have been reported at this time. The suspect was believed to be fleeing southbound from the area. The suspect was described as a light-skin male, approximately 5’11” tall, thin, wearing a mask, black shirt and dark-colored jeans.
No other information is available at this time.
If you have any information related to this incident or if you witness any suspicious activity, please report it immediately to the DeKalb Police Department at (815) 748-8400 or NIU Police and Public Safety at (815) 753-1212. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling (815) 753-TIPS (8477). In an emergency, please call 911. If you see suspicious activity, please report it immediately to the police by activating an NIU emergency call box on campus or by calling NIU Police or DeKalb Police when you get to a safe location
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36 Comments
Accident
Lorre Hunter Kenisha M. Pazin
Why is this “light-skinned” suspect not being called a thug? If it was dark and the person had something over their face I’m pretty sure being able to recognize a race was impossible. I don’t give a rats behind what race they are they are committing a crime. Would you have been more satisfied with no description? If I ever commit a crime I hope those of you commenting describe me as German/English.
You want a newspaper to describe someone using the term ‘thug’ ð¤
Antoinette My’shel No I don’t. That just seems to be the way comments go on these threads when a crime is committed and the suspects are black. Just calling out the double standard.
Allow me – go away Chicago thugs!
That sucks
Mitch Loome
Wow
Adrian Salazar
They may as well not list a description if it is that vague.
They published something recently that they were going to stop posting descriptions if they weren’t more specific. That didn’t last long.
What exactly does “light skinned” mean? Because I’m Caucasian/White but my skin is Somewhat darker in the summer months due to working outside…so is he a light skinned African American? a pale whiteboy? A pale Asian? A light skinned Hispanic? The term light skinned is a ridiculously politically correct term designed not to offend anyone, let’s just go back to saying he was White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Middle Eastern
How dare you use those accurate descriptors? Youâve offended me greatly and I must now pound out this reply on my keyboard! No one should EVER go thru the shame of being accurately described when accused of a crime! I stand with the Chronicle 135% in their pansy-ass, PC non descriptions! This is a fight I will never give up!!!
He had a mask on and it was at night so the victim may not have known.
Paul Belcher , light or dark actually describe a skin color. The other terms do not refer to color, but to race names that have incredible variations. It’s just logical.
Barbara Willey Henson , racial descriptors have traditionally been used to give the general public information on criminal suspects. Racial descriptors give the public a general guideline on what to look for in a suspect in a way that can quickly be disseminated by most people. Look at the confusion expressed in these comments and ask yourself if these people would have been as confused if we were just told to be on the lookout for a light-skinned Hispanic male, or an dark complected Asian female… Giving racial descriptors is NOT racist, it is a fact of life that different races have different characteristics * for the most part *, and is what has traditionally been used by law enforcement to alert us to potential criminals. Changing it for the sake of political correctness is just plain stupid. Edited to add: I also don’t think what you said is 100% wrong, or what I’ve written is 100% correct. I just don’t think the Chronicle is doing anyone any favors by tiptoeing around descriptions that other media outlets have no trouble at all using. It’s just dumb.
Paul Belcher , I did not say that racial descriptors were racist. I said that light/dark make sense to me because they are actual descriptions. Not everything is political correctness run amok. Plus, witnesses are often unable to be as certain and specific as they’d need to be to use the terms you list. If so, great.
Barbara Willey Henson be careful…. I do believe there is some âmansplainingâ happening here ðð³
Amy Shepardson Carson
Just another day in paradise.
This policy of describing an offender as âlight skinnedâ or âdark skinnedâ is ridiculous. Just use the terms black/white/Hispanic or whatever.
100% agree!
At night, they may not have been able to distinguish.
Baloney. This is something the DeKalb Chronicle started in their movement to political correctness.
Political correctness gone amuck.
Well it was at night and they said the offender had a mask on…
Oh give me a break with that light and dark skin BS. PC out of control.
The above two people are both “black.” How useful is that term in distinguishing between them? Now pick the “light-skinned” one. Easier, right?
Ridiculous? It seems pretty specific to me since it actually describes instead of names. What’s hard to understand about it?
Why are we arguing about how in the hell the suspects are being described? ð¤·ð½ââï¸ Clearly there are different skin variations of every race but more commonly black people. What the hell is the big deal? Donât people appreciate having a more accurate description other then just âblack?â Ppl on these threads complain about EVERYTHING. ð And to be completely certain, the chronicle is not the one responsible for using the terms âlight skinnedâ and âdark skinned.â I am a NIU student and every bulletin we receive about crime in the area uses these terms. Pretty sure the chronicle just copied the bulletin.
These descriptors have nothing to do with being politically correct, but even if they did, why is the concept of being sensitive and refraining from further ostracizing marginalized groups SO horrible?
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Another Chicago thug!