HAMMOND, LA — Campus police at Southeastern Louisiana University are warning students to stay alert after an attempted carjacking was reported near the Hammond campus. The notice came after the incident was said to have happened near North Oak Street and Whitmar Drive at about 1:45 p.m.
The university police alert, shared by the student newspaper The Lion’s Roar, said the suspect ran away in an unknown direction. No additional details about the person involved were released in the alert.
Police also urged students and others in the area to be cautious and pay attention to their surroundings.
Police say the suspect fled after the attempted carjacking
The campus warning said the attempted carjacking took place in the area of North Oak Street and Whitmar Drive, which is close to the university. That location made the alert especially relevant for students who live, walk, or drive nearby during the afternoon.
According to the notice, the suspect left the scene in an unknown direction. Police did not say whether the attempted carjacking involved a weapon, whether anyone was injured, or whether a vehicle was taken.
For now, the main message from campus police is that the person was not immediately caught and remains unidentified in the alert.
University alert was circulated through The Lion's Roar
The warning reached students through an alert issued by the university police department and shared by The Lion’s Roar, the student newspaper. That made the update visible to the campus community quickly after the reported incident.
Campus safety notices like this are meant to give students and employees a chance to use extra caution while moving around campus and nearby streets. The alert did not describe any broader threat, but it did emphasize that the attempted carjacking had happened in the immediate area.
Students were not given a shelter-in-place order or any similar instruction in the alert.
Police tell nearby residents to report suspicious activity
Along with warning students, police reminded nearby residents to stay vigilant and to call 911 if they notice suspicious activity. The advice was aimed at people who may be in the neighborhoods surrounding the university as well as those on campus.
That kind of reminder is common after a reported crime in a public area, especially when the suspect has not been found. It also gives officers a way to gather tips if anyone saw the person leave the area or noticed unusual behavior beforehand.
Police did not release any details about possible witnesses or describe a suspect vehicle.
No arrest or suspect description was included in the alert
The alert did not identify a suspect, provide a physical description, or list any clothing details. It also did not say whether investigators had recovered any evidence connected to the attempted carjacking.
With no arrest announced in the warning, campus police appear to be asking the community to help keep watch while the investigation continues. The department’s public message focused on awareness rather than on specific enforcement action.
For students and residents, the practical takeaway is simple: remain attentive around the Hammond campus and report anything that seems out of place.
Safety concerns around campuses often lead to quick alerts
University police departments often issue timely warnings when an incident happens near a campus boundary or in a nearby neighborhood. The goal is to let students know what happened and encourage them to adjust travel patterns, especially during busy daytime hours.
In this case, the reported time of 1:45 p.m. means the attempted carjacking occurred in daylight, which can increase concern among students and staff who use nearby roads throughout the afternoon.
Campus officials did not announce any changes to classes, parking, or operations, and the alert was limited to a safety reminder for the surrounding community.
