Man Hiding In Dorm Closet Pulls Gun

DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. - A Swarthmore College student told police a man was hiding in the closet of her dorm room and pulled a gun on her when she returned home Monday night.

Police have released a composite sketch of the suspect.

The incident took place in Wharton Hall around 7 p.m., police said. The 22-year-old student was not hurt.

"The intruder knocked on someone's door, was looking for the RA of the floor," said freshman Miles Santo.

But when he didn't find the resident assistant, he wandered down the hall, reported Fox 29's Claudia Gomez.

“Another girl opened her door and went to the bathroom, and left her door open, and he walked inside,” said Santo.

“She returned, she saw her closet door opening. This male emerged, put his finger up to his lips, like to indicate that she should be quiet,” said Chief Brian Craig of Swarthmore Police Department.

But she didn't stay quiet. Police said she screamed.

“It appears there may have been some pushing and shoving between the two of them. He took out a gun and displayed it,” said Chief Craig.

The suspect then fled the scene. Police have no idea why the armed man targeted the dorm or the college. Both investigators and residents doubt he even knew the RA.

The female student described the intruder as an African-American man in his late 20s or early 30s, wearing a cream-colored skull cap with a cream-colored hoodie and gray sweat pants.

Other students said they saw the man prior to the assault.

The incident follows a robbery on campus three weeks go, when a visiting student was held at gunpoint and robbed late at night.

Police don't know if there's any connection.

Anyone with information is urged to call police.