3 arrested in assaults at SU
2 students were robbed in dorms Jan. 19
Three men have been arrested for allegedly robbing at gunpoint and beating two Southern University students on campus last month, court documents show.
One of the men, Jason Dorsey, 20, was arrested Thursday after escaping from a Southern University police officer’s grasp on Jan. 19, the day the armed robberies and beatings occurred, an arrest warrant says.
The other men, Jacquez Young, 21, and Wesley Thornton, 21, were arrested Jan. 19, affidavits of probable causes say.
Young and Thornton are Southern University students, said Edward Pratt, a university spokesman. Dorsey is a former student, Pratt said.
Dorsey, Thornton and Young went to the parking lot at Washington Hall dormitory just before 10 p.m. Jan. 19 and robbed a man at gunpoint, an arrest warrant says. During the armed robbery, Dorsey beat the victim in the face with a loaded handgun.
Following the attack, Dorsey and Young got into a blue Nissan Altima driven by Thornton and headed east toward Harding Boulevard, the warrant says.
Later that night, Dorsey and Young, both wearing hoods over their heads and bandanas over their faces, went to the U.S. Jones Hall dormitory and banged on two doors, an arrest warrant says.
Dorsey and Young then forced their way into the rooms, pointed a gun in the victims’ faces and ordered them to get on the floor, the warrant says. One victim got away while the other was beaten in the back of the head with the gun.
Dorsey and Young fled with laptop computers from both rooms and got back into the Nissan, the warrant says. University police stopped the car and arrested Young and Thornton.
As he was being arrested, Dorsey ran away from police with a handcuff on one arm, the warrant says. He was caught again Thursday.
Since the armed robberies and beatings occurred, Pratt said, anyone entering or exiting Southern University’s campus after 6 p.m. will have to go through the university’s Harding Boulevard checkpoint.
Students going through the checkpoint must provide a student ID, Pratt said. People who aren’t students must provide a driver’s license and a reason why they are coming or going.
Pratt said security at the university’s dorms is adequate but would not elaborate on what kind of security is provided. Pratt also would not say what the status of Thornton and Young’s enrollment will be if they try to return.
Pratt said students who have faced similar circumstances have been placed on administrative suspension. Students have a right to appeal such a suspension, leaving the decision to a board made up of students and faculty.
Dorsey, 3926 La. 28 East, Pineville, was booked into Parish Prison on four counts of armed robbery, two counts of illegal carrying of a firearm on school grounds, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of illegal possession of stolen things, four counts of felony theft, one count of misdemeanor theft, one count of battery on a peace officer, one count of resisting an officer and one count of simple escape.
Young, 341 George St., Avondale, was booked on two counts each of armed robbery aggravated battery, aggravated burglary and illegal possession of stolen weapon. Young also was booked on one count each of illegal carrying of a firearm in a firearm free zone, illegal possession of stolen things and felony theft.
Thornton, 3017 Memorial Park, New Orleans, was booked on two counts each of principal to armed robbery aggravated battery, aggravated burglary and illegal possession of stolen weapon. Thornton also was booked on one count each of principal to illegal carrying of a firearm in a firearm free zone, illegal possession of stolen things and felony theft.