A male sophomore was assaulted on campus by an unknown suspect early Sunday morning and is now in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital, said Deputy Police Chief Thomas Oates III.
The student was talking with two other people — one male and one female — at the corner of George and Thayer streets when he was approached by another male who punched him in the face, Oates said. The student fell to the ground from the blow, receiving “severe head injuries” as a result, Oates said.
The suspect then fled from the crime scene on foot, and no arrests have been made yet, Oates said, adding that the Providence Police Department is working with the Department of Public Safety on an ongoing investigation.
PPD dispatched officers to the corner of George and Thayer at 2:25 a.m. after receiving a call from DPS officers about the reported assault, Oates said.
He added that a DPS officer was at the scene when the Providence Police officers arrived. Emergency Medical Services then transported the student to Rhode Island Hospital, Oates said.
Though the student remains in critical condition, he has “somewhat improved” since arriving at the hospital, Oates said, adding that he was unsure how long the student will have to remain in the trauma and intensive care unit.
“University officials have reached out to the student and the student’s family to offer support, and our thoughts remain with them during this time,” Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations Marisa Quinn wrote in an email to The Herald.