Fitchburg State University issues warning after student sexually assaulted

FITCHBURG, Mass. (WLNE) — Officials at Fitchburg State University are warning their community after a student was sexually assaulted.

According to school officials, as of Sunday, campus security officers are searching for the suspect who allegedly assaulted a student on campus and may have approached other women in days prior.

Authorities said a student reported being assaulted in the campus library the morning of Wednesday, October 4, between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.

She told officials that her assailant was a man, approximately 19-years-old, five feet and five inches tall, with a thin build who spoke with an accent of undetermined origin.

She further said the man approached her in the library and began a conversation before initiating physical contact that escalated into sexual assault.

Fitchburg Police were also notified of the incident and further investigation revealed that several other women on campus had been approached by a man matching the description of the assailant.

In a statement, the school’s president said in part, “The safety of the campus community is paramount, and the university is working with public safety partners to locate the individual described in the reported assault on campus, and our community members will see a heightened police presence around these public locations while this investigation continues.”

Anyone with information regarding the alleged assailant or any similar encounters is urged to contact campus police at 978-665-3111.