Police Seek 2 Men In Robbery At Nassau Community College

EAST GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for two men wanted in connection with a robbery at Nassau Community College.

The victim, 20-year-old Elisha McGowan, was leaving the college's North Hall when he was approached by the suspects around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

McGowan said he said hello to two men walking by, one he recognized. One of the suspects then came up behind him and hit him in the head with a handgun before taking his watch, cellphone and gold chain, police said.

"I turned around and put my headphones back on and got smacked," he told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff.

The suspects then fled in an older model gray Ford Mustang.

In an alert emailed to students, one suspect is described as having shoulder-length braids and black glasses. The other reportedly has a goatee and the street name "Trigger."

McGowan suffered a bruise to his face, police said.

"The Public Safety Department of NCC is cooperating fully with the investigation and asks members of the campus community to report any suspicious activity immediately to the Department of Public Safety at 516-572-7100," the school said.

Students were shocked by the incident.

The college, which is patrolled by 80 public safety officers and two Nassau police units, had no reported robberies in more than a year.

As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, on a campus with 22,000 students many are watching their backs.

"It's supposed to be a safe environment, a college campus, makes you not want to come to class," Emily Finz said.

"That's crazy, I mean you see public safety driving around really pretty often and it's surprising that no one was here to see it," one student told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.

The college is patrolled by 80 public safety officers and two Nassau police units. It hasn't had a robbery in over a year.

"Nassau Community College is a very safe campus," Inspector Kenneth Lack, Nassau County Police Department, said, "If you're afraid walk with another person, park in well lit areas."

Campus officials warned anyone spotting the suspects not to take action, but to call public safety or police.

Nassau Community College has many security cameras, but none in the location of the hold-up, according to Joe Muscarella, VP Facilities Management.

Detectives ask anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

School officials say help is a button push away with dozens of campus phones and night escorts available.