The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday at University Edge apartments on 650 West McKinley St.
Witnesses said four male suspects forced their way into an apartment at University Edge, taking one apartment resident hostage as another apartment resident, a criminal justice University student, locked himself in his room before climbing out to the edge of his fourth-floor bedroom window.
The criminal justice student called out to witnesses below to contact emergency services before falling to the pavement, breaking his feet and ankles and crushing two of his vertebrae, according to a business marketing University student who lives at University Edge.
Witnesses said the suspects struck the first apartment resident, who had been taken hostage, multiple times in the face with a handgun, knocking him out before they made off with stolen items. 
The business marketing student said the suspects took more than $8,000 in stolen items, such as cameras, laptops, a game console and cash.
Witnesses said the suspects took a third victim hostage in an elevator as they tried to flee the scene, holding a gun to his head before releasing him and escaping.
As they attempted to leave the building, the suspects tried to rob six other victims, Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, BRPD spokesman, said.
BRPD arrested one of the suspects, former Ole Miss football player Hayward Howard, 27, of 5336 Marais St., New Orleans, after he attempted to flee the scene.
Hayward was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for two counts of armed robbery and six counts of attempted armed robbery, McKneely said.
A community meeting was held at 4 p.m. on Thursday on University Edge grounds to address the concerns that residents had about the security on the grounds.
Before Wednesday’s incident, police patrolled Thursday through the weekend, but Eric Silvestri, regional manager for Peak Campus Companies, the owning corporation of University Edge, said they will increase patrols earlier in the week.
“We have off-duty officers that come and help us out,” Silvestri said.
Many residents voiced their concerns at the meeting, some of whom were looking to terminate their leases because of the unsatisfactory security on the grounds.
Those wishing to leave the complex were told that the incident was “not a valid reason to break their lease,” said a University Edge resident.
McKneely said police are actively searching for the remaining suspects and the incident is still under investigation.