PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Alderson Broaddus University officials confirmed three men arrested in a Morgantown robbery investigation are students at the school.
Morgantown police arrested Marquez Alexander Wing, 20, of Mount Airy, Md., Malik Levon Cobb, 19, of Martinsburg, and Daniel Joseph Eppard, 19, of Winchester, Va., during a traffic stop near Grafton Road and Scott Avenue.
Ashley Mittelmeier, the university’s director of marketing and communications, issued a statement:
“Through their chief of police, we have learned that an incident involving three of our students occurred in Morgantown on Wednesday evening. This event led to charges; and the university has acted swiftly with zero tolerance.
“Alderson Broaddus University takes the safety of its students and campus community with the highest priority. We do not and will not condone any behavior on or off our campus that could put someone’s well-being at risk.”
Mittelmeier declined comment on specific disciplinary action against the three suspects.
The three men allegedly assaulted and robbed a man inside his University Avenue apartment around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The victim told police the men were in his apartment when they physically assaulted him before stealing his wallet, laptop and drug paraphernalia.
The victim suffered minor injuries during the assault and declined treatment.
Morgantown police chief Ed Preston said the victim and suspects knew each other.
“A lot of the victims are victims of their lifestyle, meaning they were engaged in activities that makes them vulnerable to being victimized by some other predatory individuals,” Preston said. “Case in point, typically it revolves around the sale or use of drugs.”
Wing, Cobb and Eppard all were charged with a single count of robbery.