HAMMOND, LA — Campus police at Southeastern Louisiana University are urging students to stay alert after an attempted carjacking was reported near campus in Hammond.

The warning was issued after university police said the incident happened near North Oak Street and Whitmar Drive around 1:45 p.m. According to a notice shared by the student newspaper The Lion’s Roar, the suspect ran away in an unknown direction.

Police did not immediately say whether anyone was hurt or whether a vehicle was taken. The alert was meant to remind students and nearby residents to be cautious and to report anything unusual right away.

University alert pointed to the area near North Oak Street and Whitmar Drive

The location mentioned in the alert places the incident close to Southeastern’s Hammond campus, where many students travel on foot or by car during the day. University police warned that the area should be treated carefully while officers respond to safety concerns.

The notice did not identify a suspect beyond saying the person fled after the attempted carjacking. It also did not provide a description of the individual or say whether police had recovered any evidence at the scene.

Because the incident happened in the afternoon, the alert was intended to reach students who may have been heading to or from class, work, or campus activities at the time. Police did not say how long the suspect had been in the area before running off.

Police told students and residents to stay vigilant and call 911

Along with the warning, police reminded students and nearby residents to stay vigilant and contact 911 if they see suspicious activity. That advice is a standard part of campus safety alerts, especially when police have only limited information about a suspect.

The alert did not say whether officers were still searching the area, but it made clear that the department wanted people nearby to be aware of the reported attempt. The message also served as a reminder that officials want any new information reported quickly.

Students were not given any special instructions beyond remaining aware of their surroundings and reporting concerns. No shelter-in-place order or campus closure was announced.

The Lion's Roar shared the alert with students

The university notice was circulated publicly through a screenshot shared by The Lion’s Roar, the campus student newspaper. That allowed students and others connected to Southeastern to see the warning even if they had not received it directly.

Campus alerts often move quickly through student media and social channels when police want to widen the reach of a safety message. In this case, the shared screenshot included the key details: the time, the location, and the report that the suspect fled on foot.

The alert did not say whether the attempted carjacking was captured on surveillance video or whether any witnesses had already spoken with investigators. Those details were not included in the notice made public by the newspaper.

Afternoon campus incidents can prompt fast safety reminders

Even when an attempted crime does not lead to an arrest, campus police often issue quick alerts so students can adjust how they move around the area. That is especially true when an incident happens near places where students regularly park, walk, or wait for rides.

In this case, the university message was aimed at awareness rather than alarm. Police did not describe any broader threat to the campus, but they wanted people in the area to remain cautious while the situation was being addressed.

The alert also underscores how campus departments use local warnings to help keep students informed in real time. When officers have only a short window to gather facts, telling people what is known can still help reduce risk.

No further details were released about the suspect or vehicle

As of the alert shared publicly, police had not released a suspect description or said whether they were looking for a particular vehicle. The notice also did not explain what led up to the attempted carjacking or how the encounter unfolded.

Officials likewise did not provide information about an arrest, charges, or a timeline for additional updates. For now, the main advice from campus police is for students and residents to remain aware and report anything out of the ordinary.

The incident adds to the routine safety concerns that university police manage around campus, particularly when a report involves a person who flees before officers can make contact. For students nearby, the key takeaway is simple: stay alert and call police if something seems wrong.