Joseph Coy of Lafayette was arrested in connection with a bias-motivated attack against a student from Nigeria that occurred Saturday around 2:30 a.m. near Broadway and Pleasant Streets.
The assault occurred at 2:28 a.m. on Saturday at Broadway and Pleasant Street, according to the news release. One suspect is in custody. Police are seeking two other men who were with the suspect at the time of the incident.
Olubiyi Ogundipe, a 19-year old economics major from Nigeria, was walking with a Nigerian friend when they heard voices behind them. The men walking behind them, one of whom has been identified as Joseph Coy, a 22-year-old from Lafayette, and another who was described as a smaller white male, 18 to 20, used the n-word, called Ogundipe and his friend monkeys and told them to go back to their country of origin, according to the release.
Ogundipe confronted the suspects verbally. Coy began punching him in the face, with one blow knocking him to the ground, according to the news release.
According to the release, a CU police officer witnessed the altercation and tried to intervene, but the suspects fled. The officer ran after Coy and arrested him after a short foot pursuit. Coy was booked into the Boulder County Jail on charges of bias-motivated crime, which is a felony, and obstruction.
Police are looking for the other suspect as well as another man who was with the two. His role remains unclear. Ogundipe was taken to the hospital but he did not sustain serious injuries, according to the release.
In a separate CU news release many prominent figures at CU decried the attack.
“This act of racial violence and ethnic intimidation has no place in our community or any community,” said Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “It is an affront to our values of diversity and inclusion, and a threat to the welcoming community that CU-Boulder and the City of Boulder strive to create.”
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Julie Wong said CU will reach out to Ogundipe to offer him support.
“We are extending outreach to Olubiyi and want him to know this outrageous act does not represent the values of our campus, the Boulder community or neighboring communities, or our nation,” Wong said.
CU Student Government President Will Taylor said the attack against Olubiyi “is an attack against all CU students, and one will we not stand for.”
“All CU students today are standing with Olubiyi, and standing against this kind of hateful, violent act,” Taylor said. “We want him to know he is a welcome member of our community, and that all students, regardless of their national origin, race, gender or gender identification, sexual orientation, religion or political orientation, are welcome at CU.”
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Sgt. Tom Trujillo at 303-441-3338. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Contact CU Independent Breaking News Editor Ellie Bean at Beanee@colorado.edu.
