On Wednesday and Thursday night this week, a young man allegedly fondled six female Vanderbilt University students' buttocks as they were walking on or near campus.
The assaults began around 7 p.m. on Wednesday night, according to Vanderbilt University Public Safety.
Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) says they received three additional sexual assault reports on Thursday night where community members were grabbed or slapped on the buttocks.
The suspect was described as a short, skinny male and VUPD has been able to verify that the suspect in each of the incidents over both nights is the individual pictured in this story.
The suspect was last seen Thursday evening around 9 p.m. on 21st Ave. South near Dunkin' wearing a maroon long-sleeved shirt, baseball cap, black, white checkered shoes and a dark-colored backpack.
Vanderbilt University sent FOX 17 News a statement in full below:
"At Vanderbilt, we are deeply committed to ensuring the safety of each and every member of our community. Acts of sexual assault in any context are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We are committed to holding perpetrators accountable.
The sexual assaults reported on March 16 and March 17 remain under investigation and VUPS is working with the Metro Nashville Police Department, surrounding universities, and our community to gather information and identify the suspect. We have also enacted enhanced safety and security measures including increasing patrols on and around our campus and are encouraging our community to immediately report any behavior or incidents of a criminal or safety concern to VUPS.
VUPD has determined that the suspect in each of the incidents reported on March 16 and March 17 is the individual pictured in the attached flier. The suspect was last seen Thursday evening just after 8:30 p.m. in the area of 21st Ave S. and West End Ave. wearing a maroon long-sleeved shirt, baseball cap, black and white checkered shoes, and dark-colored backpack.
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