A rabbi and a group of Jewish students were held at gunpoint during a late Wednesday dinner on the first night of Rosh Hashanah, according to the University of Michigan.
Southfield police say the home invasion took place around 10:40 p.m. at a residence in the 16000 block of Hilton Street. By the time officers arrived, the suspect was no longer there.
University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono said a group of Jewish students and a local rabbi were gathered for dinner when an armed individual entered through an open backdoor, stole a bag and fled.
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Police said the armed suspect told the victims: “I’m taking everything, give me everything.” The occupants were able to exit through the front door uninjured, police said.
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Investigators say they have identified the suspect and are searching for him. Police said another suspect, a female, was involved in the home invasion, and has been arrested. The home invasion is being investigated as a “crime of opportunity.”
Ono acknowledged that Wednesday’s home invasion took place during a time marked by “innumerable events locally and globally that have felt overwhelming and unsettling to many in our community.”
“As tensions in the Middle East have escalated in recent days, it is more important than ever that we work collectively to offer solace and safety to one another,” Ono said in a statement. “The university is absolute in its pledge to do whatever it can to protect and care for our students, faculty, staff and visitors. I also urge each of you to be proactive in prioritizing your mental health and well-being, and to take time to reach out to friends and colleagues.”
