The LSU Police Department arrested a 19-year-old man unaffiliated with the University on Sunday night for attempted second-degree murder and attempted simple robbery.
A female student was leaving Middleton Library and walking back to her vehicle around 11:45 p.m. when a male approached her from behind, according to Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokesman.
Thomas Gauthier Jr., of 1832 W. Johnson St., attempted to take the victim’s phone as she was passing through the corridor alongside Allen Hall, Scott said. The victim refused to give up the phone, so Gauthier pushed her to the ground.
During the struggle, Gauthier, who was unarmed, attempted to initiate what Scott called “grave bodily harm” to the victim by trying to break her neck.
Scott said the victim’s screams alerted nearby students who rushed to her aid. Two male students chased down Gauthier as he tried to flee the scene, and a third student called LSUPD.
“The victim did a lot of things right in this situation.
She was observant and became more alert once she knew something wasn’t right,” Scott said. “In this instance, she was truly a victim of a circumstantial encounter.”
Scott said all parties involved are lucky the situation ended safely, and the police do not advocate the type of response issued by both the victim, who fought to keep her phone, and the students who chased down the suspect.
Scott said the students who aided in the victim’s rescue were helpful in detaining the suspect, but the situation could have been much worse.
“What they did was a great service, but there could have been some dangerous consequences,” he said.
Scott said students should call the police in situations involving a violent assailant.
The victim was brought to the hospital for her injuries and was released while Gauthier was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, Scott said.
Nancy Colyar, assistant dean of libraries, said she was not aware of the incident and that LSUPD handles security for the library.
Scott said surveillance cameras are located inside the library, and officers believe Gauthier had been visiting a friend who attends the University.
Scott said the previous Student Government administration launched an initiative to use specified grant money for the University to purchase surveillance cameras to be placed in the Quad, but the cameras are not yet up and running.
“They are waiting for the necessary electrical infrastructure,” Scott said.
Scott said students can decrease their odds of being victimized by walking in pairs and staying in well-lit areas.
“These things will decrease the odds, but they won’t take them away,” he said.
—-
Contact Sarah Eddington at [email protected]