Five men robbed a University student crossing the 10th Avenue bridge Monday at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Justin Erickson, a senior finance major, who is also the Daily’s business manager, was walking from the Carlson School of Management to his home on 11th Avenue Southeast when the incident occurred.

The men, who were black and appeared to range in age from 16 to 20, were wearing dark pants and dark parkas. One man was wearing a white stocking cap, Erickson said.

“I was unlucky,” he said. “I got jacked.”

As Erickson walked northbound across the bridge, he noticed two men sitting on his left. Erickson passed the two men and three more men appeared in front of him, he said.

“I just thought, here we go,”
he said.

One of the men walking toward Erickson punched him and kneed him in the stomach, he said.

The men then yelled at Erickson to give them his wallet. Erickson gave the men his money clip and one man choked Erickson. The men took Erickson’s cash, but returned his credit cards, he said.

“I didn’t say anything,” he said. “I didn’t do anything.”

One of the men then began kneeing Erickson in the back of the head, he said.

“I’m wondering if they are going to throw me over the bridge, stab me, shoot me,” said Erickson.

The men also stole Erickson’s bag.

The men then began to walk south on the bridge away from the scene. Erickson got up and began to walk north.

When he was far enough away to know he could run if chased, Erickson called police on his cell phone, he said.

The victim and the police officer drove through the area to look for Erickson’s bag but were unable to locate it, Erickson said.

Erickson declined medical attention, according to the police report.

Erickson said he considers the assault an isolated incident and will continue using the 10th Avenue bridge.

“To become cynical and afraid of the area is illogical,” he said. “As far as I can tell the University is a pretty safe place.”