A female St. Thomas student was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Finn Street.

According to a St. Thomas Department of Public Safety alert, the student was walking west on Grand Avenue when she encountered a stranger. The student reported that the suspect approached her and brandished a small handgun while asking for money. He then took the student’s phone and purse, turned and walked south on Finn Street, then broke into a run.

Public Safety sent two alerts to students, staff and faculty regarding the robbery. One, sent at 12:18 a.m. Thursday, advised people to “Stay away from the area and seek shelter inside.” The next, sent at 1:19 a.m., stated that the area was searched and cleared by the St. Paul Police Department and that no suspect was in custody.

St. Paul police are investigating the incident.

Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@stthomas.edu