A University student has been arrested for the attack of a student near the Parade Ground on Saturday.
LSU Police Department officers arrested Camden Marcotte, 20-year-old kinesiology sophomore of 45 Harding St., Dartmouth, Mass., on Tuesday. The alleged assailant was identified by the victim, said Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman.
Officials believe Marcotte attacked an 18-year-old female student as she was walking on the sidewalk along Highland Road at 3:30 a.m.
According to LSUPD Det. Kevin Scott, the victim was hit from behind and pushed to the ground. The two fought, and the victim was struck again. The attacker escaped between the Faculty Club and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center building.
The victim was treated for minor wounds on the scene, Scott said.
Tabor said police believe Marcotte’s motive was robbery — during the scuffle, a chain necklace was yanked from the victim’s neck. Police found the necklace at the scene.
Marcotte is charged with simple robbery. He declined to speak to police about his motive, Tabor said.
Detectives were able to identify the alleged assailant using a tip from another student and security camera footage of Marcotte entering an on-campus residence hall after the attack.
Police interviewed Marcotte on Monday after viewing camera footage, but lacked adequate evidence to arrest him until he was identified by the victim on Tuesday, Tabor said.
Tabor said detectives are continuing the investigation to corroborate the evidence against Marcotte.
Simple robbery carries a maximum of seven years in prison and a $3,000 fine, Tabor said.
Marcotte was transported to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday.
Tabor said the victim is not to blame for the attack, but the incident should remind students to always be alert and report suspicious behavior.
“[Police] can’t be everywhere at once, but if we have a thousand sets of eyes looking we have a much better chance of solving a case,” Tabor said.
Tabor said if students feel uncomfortable walking on campus in the early morning hours after Campus Transit closes, they can call the police for assistance.
“There are many people who walk this campus late and nothing happens,” Tabor said. “But instances like this are going to happen.”
 
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Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at [email protected]