A 20-year-old male student was walking in the alley that runs east from the 100 block of Ninth Street when two male suspects approached him from behind.

According to witnesses, the suspects forcefully pushed the victim's head into a wall of a building on the south side of the alley and struck him several times. When the victim fell to the ground, the suspects searched his pocket and took his wallet.

A witness began yelling at the two suspects and they, along with three other young males who had been traveling with them, ran east up the alley.

Witnesses described the five individuals involved in the incident to police. Around 11:45 p.m., an officer observed a group of three males and another group of two males walking in the area of College Avenue and Rogers Street.

The groups matched the description of the individuals involved in the robbery, and the officer stopped the group of two. He was unable to stop the other three and they were able to flee before other officers could arrive to help.

Witnesses confirmed the two detained juveniles had been at the robbery scene, but they were not identified as the two who physically committed the robbery.

The Juvenile Detective Unit is further investigating the case.

Before examination, the victim was known to have abrasions and contusions to the face as well as a laceration to the lower lip. Officers took him in a police vehicle to a local hospital.

Police ask anyone with any information to submit tips to the Crimestoppers Web site, which can be accessed through the link on the left. Information can be submitted anonymously and, if it leads to an arrest, may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,500.

SOURCE: Sgt. Michael Maynard, Columbia Police Department