WABC TV and multiple student tipsters inform us that a grad student [not GS as previously reported] fleeing muggers at 122nd Street and Broadway was hit by a car and taken to St. Luke’s with “severe head trauma.” More on this as we get more information.

UPDATE (1:33 AM): Gothamist post reveals that the student was studying late in Butler before the incident. We now feel worse about this than we already did.

UPDATE (11:05 AM): The student, Minghui Yu, died last night at St. Luke’s Hospital.  The Daily News has the story in classic tabloid form (e.g. “The guy’s body was twisted like a pretzel.”)  The Spec has it here.  Bwog, for sorrow, hangs its head.

Update (1:19 PM): More coverage can be found here and here.  

Bollinger’s email after the jump 

Dear Members of the Columbia Community:

I am writing to share very sad news about one of our graduate students.

Last night a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences,

Minghui Yu, was struck by an automobile two blocks north of our main

campus at 122nd Street and Broadway while he was apparently fleeing an

attempted robbery on the sidewalk.  The student was taken to

St. Luke’s Hospital but passed away as a result of the severe injuries

he had sustained.

An NYPD investigation is underway and is being supported by the

University’s Department of Public Safety which, last night following

university procedures, circulated an alert to student affairs deans at

all of our schools with information about possible suspects in the

attempted robbery.

As a community we mourn the loss of one of our members, and especially

of a young person with much to look forward to in a life of

promise. The University’s counseling services are available to anyone

who feels he or she could benefit from expert support in response to

this deeply sad event.  Please do not hesitate to visit Counseling and

Psychological Services on the 8th floor of Lerner Hall today from 1:00

– 5:00 p.m., or call at any time 212.854.2878 if you feel such

assistance would be helpful to you.

While incidents of crime have been significantly reduced in New York

over recent decades, and the area of Morningside Heights is within one

of the safest precincts in the city, it is nevertheless imperative

that we all take reasonable precautions appropriate to life in a large

metropolitan environment.  Our Department of Public Safety has worked

closely with the NYPD in safeguarding members of our University

Community and offers a range of services — including safety escorts,

evening shuttle buses and directed patrols — that help ensure

students, faculty and staff can both be, and feel, secure while

living, studying and working here.  We constantly review and seek to

improve public safety operations.  If you would like more information

on these services, go to: www.columbia.edu/cu/publicsafety, or call

212.854.2797.

The family of the graduate student has been notified.  We will begin

plans for a memorial event on campus.  For today, I know we are united

as a community in mourning the tragic loss of a young life.



Lee C. Bollinger