Female student says man attacked her on SIUE bike path

A female student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville told police she was attacked Thursday night on a campus bike path.

Campus police said the student reported she was attacked about 8 p.m. on the bike path at the bridge between the Science Building and Fitness Center. The student managed to fight back and run away, police said.

The suspect was described as a male with dark skin, about 6 feet tall, with a large earring in his right ear. He wore a hooded sweatshirt.

The university sent out an electronic alert to students at about 4:45 p.m. on Friday.

“It is believed that the victim was not a premeditated target and that this was a random act of violence,” the alert stated.

Campus police said they’re investigating the report and asked that anyone with information call the SIUE Police Department at 650-3324. Police said they planned to add more patrols to the bike paths.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 9:40 AM with the headline "Female student says man attacked her on SIUE bike path."