By Robyn Doolittle
Editor-in-Chief
Two non-community members first robbed, then pushed a Ryerson student down a stairwell in Jorgenson Hall Tuesday morning, police said.
The 19-year-old was rushed to nearby St. Michael’s Hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries shortly before noon.
“We believe these are strangers. I believe there was a surveillance camera. We have a match on one of the suspects (and) expect to find that person,” said Staff Sergeant Stan Belza, adding he doesn’t think that the student’s injuries are that severe.
After robbing the student of his wallet and some money, the suspects fled the scene, leaving the student alone on the floor until a faculty member discovered him semi-conscious and badly injured.
Emergency crews arrived on campus minutes later at around 11:30 a.m. Paramedics worked on the student for about 15 minutes, before removing him from the building completely covered in an orange sheet.
The man was rushed to hospital wearing a neck brace and breathing through an oxygen mask. Streams of caked blood covered the student’s lower face and fingers, and large scrapes were visible on his arm.
“We’re very, very concerned for this student and are hoping to get word on his condition,” said Julia Lewis, associate director at the centre of environmental health, safety and security management.
“We’re taking this very seriously and we’re very distressed by it.”
Lewis said Ryerson security is working closely with Toronto police, who have launched an investigation into the incident.
Security questioned staff and students, but were unable to turn up any witnesses, although the ensuing flurry of activity drew a significant crowd.
Two ambulances, a paramedic response jeep and fire crews converged on Victoria and Gould streets blaring sirens and flashing emergency lights. Police arrived shortly after to begin their investigation.
Peter Macintyre, a spokesperson for Toronto Emergency Medical Services, said they are not able to release the student’s name for privacy reasons, although police confirmed he was a Scarborough resident.
If you have any information, please contact 51 Division at 416-808-5101.
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