Crime & Safety
Robbers Use Gun in Violent BART Path Assault
Three men, including one with a gun, hit and kicked three international students in a robbery on the BART path in Albany next to the El Cerrito border early Tuesday evening, and then escaped into El Cerrito, Albany police said.
Robbers attacked three pedestrians on the BART path near early Tuesday evening, police said.
The assailants, who are still at large, were described as three black men in the 20s wearing black clothes and some type of hood or beanies, said officer Jose Lara of the .
All three were described as about 6 feet tall, and included a skinny man with a gun, a second man with a medium build, and a third man who was heavy-set.
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Police ask anyone with information that may be relevant to this crime to call 510-525-7300.
Lara said three international students in their 20s, a woman and two men, were walking south on the BART path toward Brighton Avenue just before 6:20 p.m.
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They heard the sound of running behind them, and turned to see three people coming toward them.
One of the robbers pulled out a black semi-automatic gun and punched one of the male victims in the mouth, causing a swollen lip, said Lara. The robber then demanded belongings from the victims.
Another robber threw the woman to the ground, and took her wallet and purse.
The other male victim got down on the ground and pleaded for leniency, but the third man punched him in the back of the head and took his wallet. Lara said one of the robbers also kicked the man in the head while he was on the ground.
All three men took off running north on the BART path toward El Cerrito.
As of 8:30 p.m., authorities had not located them.
Police ask anyone with information that may be relevant to this crime to call 510-525-7300.
