Campus Alert Archive
USC

Aggravated assault at 25th Street and Ellendale

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CAassaulttimely warninghigh confidence
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Under Investigation

USC Department of Public Safety published a crime alert. Full text recovered from dps.usc.edu.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
University of Southern California
Private R1 · CA
All USC cases →
~49,000 studentsTrojansAlert
Official alert policy
Read when and how USC says it will use TrojansAlert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim5464 chars
Incident Description: The victim was standing on the corner when the suspect rode past him on a bicycle. The suspect made several offensive comments, then stopped and threatened to stab the victim. The victim saw that the suspect had a knife in his hand. The victim’s ride arrived and the victim got into the car. The suspect left the area eastbound on 25th Street. Date & Time of Occurrence: 10/14/2023 11:25 A.M. Location: West 25th Street and Ellendale Place, southwest corner Report Number: 2305716 Vehicle Description: No vehicle Suspect Description (provided by reporting party): Age:40Eye Color:UnknownHair Color:UnknownHeight:UnknownRace:HispanicSex:MaleWeight:UnknownAdditional Description:Wearing a black bicycle helmet and black shirt. He was riding a black beach cruiser with a red bag on the rear.Weapon:Knife If you are in immediate DANGER, call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911 or the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321. Please note that race, ethnicity, gender and/or religious affiliation are NOT considered the basis for suspicion; only behaviors are considered suspicious. If you have information relevant to the crime(s) reflected in this alert, immediately call DPS at (213) 740-6000 for the University Park Campus (UPC), (323) 442-1000 for the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) or (213) 485-6571 for the LAPD Southwest Division. The purpose of this warning is to aid in the prevention of similar crimes by alerting the community about the incident and to provide information which allows individuals to make informed decisions about their personal safety. USC Department of Public Safety Recommendations - Aggravated Assault - If you are assaulted, immediately go to a safe location and report the crime to law enforcement. For the University Park Campus (UPC) call DPS emergency at (213) 740-4321, for the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) call (323) 442-1000 or call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911. - If you observe an assault in progress, STAY CALM AND CALL DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442- 1000 or the LAPD at 911. Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime. Your personal safety and the safety of others around you should be your primary concern.  - Not every person you meet has good intentions. Be cautious of strangers, and keep a safe distance. There is safety in numbers, so travel with friends. - Avoid using cell phones or other technology while walking as criminals target distracted, inattentive individuals using them. - Be a good witness: It is important to recall what you observed and provide as many details as possible to law enforcement such as: the sex, race, age, height, hair color, clothing, tattoos, scars of any suspects and a description of the make and model of any vehicle used in the crime and its license plate if possible. - Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime.  Other options to contact DPS, to report crime, ask for help and to receive information: - Blue light emergency phones are located throughout UPC and HSC. The phones are connected to the USC DPS' 24-hour communications center and identify the phone location if the caller is unable to speak. The phones can be used to request help, an escort, report suspicious activity and to report crimes. For more information visit: Emergency Blue Light Phones | Department of Public Safety | USC. - Security Ambassadors : In addition to DPS officers who patrol a 2.5 mile radius around USC's campuses, USC contracts with "Security Ambassadors" to patrol street corners in nearby neighborhoods and to observe and report crime and suspicious activity. This security force wears bright yellow jackets so you can easily spot them. If you need assistance, look for a Security Ambassador. - Get a Ride: Lyft is now available at HSC and UPC to cover shared rides. Lyft at UPC is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Lyft at HSC is open from 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday only. Please visit the USC Lyft page for more information: https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/campus-cruiser-program/how-to-use-lyft/ - Verify your driver and car: Once you have requested a Lyft ride, you can view the driver's rating. When your ride arrives, make sure the driver's photo, license plate number and vehicle description match. Never take a ride you did not request or get into a car that doesn't match the details provided by the Lyft app. - Go the extra mile: The Lyft app's "share your ETA" function allows you to invite friends to see your trip in real-time. The app will draft a text message you can share with friends that includes your ETA and a link to a live map that allows them to track your trip. Too much effort? Call a friend and stay on the line while you're in the car instead. - LiveSafe APP: To quickly make emergency push button calls to DPS or 911 on your mobile phone, download the Trojan Mobile Safety APP "LIVESAFE" from Google Play or the Apple iTunes Store. For more information regarding LIVESAFE visit https://dps.usc.edu/services/safety-app/. - TrojansAlert: Register for USC's emergency notification system TrojansAlert to allow university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages via text message and email. For more information visit: http://dps.usc.edu/services/trojans-alerts/. (Please note that students, staff and faculty automatically are signed up for TrojansAlerts.)
Verify this quote
USC DPS official crime alert pagedps.usc.edufind archived copies
Verbatim from official dps.usc.edu crime alert page.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Incident Description: The victim was standing on the corner when the suspect rode past him on a bicycle. The suspect made several offensive comments, then stopped and threatened to stab the victim. The victim saw that the suspect had a knife in his hand. The victim’s ride arrived and the victim got into the car. The suspect left the area eastbound on 25th Street. Date & Time of Occurrence: 10/14/2023 11:25 A.M. Location: West 25th Street and Ellendale Place, southwest corner Report Number: 2305716 Vehicle Description: No vehicle Suspect Description (provided by reporting party): Age:40Eye Color:UnknownHair Color:UnknownHeight:UnknownRace:HispanicSex:MaleWeight:UnknownAdditional Description:Wearing a black bicycle helmet and black shirt. He was riding a black beach cruiser with a red bag on the rear.Weapon:Knife If you are in immediate DANGER, call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911 or the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321. Please note that race, ethnicity, gender and/or religious affiliation are NOT considered the basis for suspicion; only behaviors are considered suspicious. If you have information relevant to the crime(s) reflected in this alert, immediately call DPS at (213) 740-6000 for the University Park Campus (UPC), (323) 442-1000 for the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) or (213) 485-6571 for the LAPD Southwest Division. The purpose of this warning is to aid in the prevention of similar crimes by alerting the community about the incident and to provide information which allows individuals to make informed decisions about their personal safety. USC Department of Public Safety Recommendations - Aggravated Assault - If you are assaulted, immediately go to a safe location and report the crime to law enforcement. For the University Park Campus (UPC) call DPS emergency at (213) 740-4321, for the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) call (323) 442-1000 or call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911. - If you observe an assault in progress, STAY CALM AND CALL DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442- 1000 or the LAPD at 911. Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime. Your personal safety and the safety of others around you should be your primary concern.  - Not every person you meet has good intentions. Be cautious of strangers, and keep a safe distance. There is safety in numbers, so travel with friends. - Avoid using cell phones or other technology while walking as criminals target distracted, inattentive individuals using them. - Be a good witness: It is important to recall what you observed and provide as many details as possible to law enforcement such as: the sex, race, age, height, hair color, clothing, tattoos, scars of any suspects and a description of the make and model of any vehicle used in the crime and its license plate if possible. - Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime.  Other options to contact DPS, to report crime, ask for help and to receive information: - Blue light emergency phones are located throughout UPC and HSC. The phones are connected to the USC DPS' 24-hour communications center and identify the phone location if the caller is unable to speak. The phones can be used to request help, an escort, report suspicious activity and to report crimes. For more information visit: Emergency Blue Light Phones | Department of Public Safety | USC. - Security Ambassadors : In addition to DPS officers who patrol a 2.5 mile radius around USC's campuses, USC contracts with "Security Ambassadors" to patrol street corners in nearby neighborhoods and to observe and report crime and suspicious activity. This security force wears bright yellow jackets so you can easily spot them. If you need assistance, look for a Security Ambassador. - Get a Ride: Lyft is now available at HSC and UPC to cover shared rides. Lyft at UPC is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Lyft at HSC is open from 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday only. Please visit the USC Lyft page for more information: https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/campus-cruiser-program/how-to-use-lyft/ - Verify your driver and car: Once you have requested a Lyft ride, you can view the driver's rating. When your ride arrives, make sure the driver's photo, license plate number and vehicle description match. Never take a ride you did not request or get into a car that doesn't match the details provided by the Lyft app. - Go the extra mile: The Lyft app's "share your ETA" function allows you to invite friends to see your trip in real-time. The app will draft a text message you can share with friends that includes your ETA and a link to a live map that allows them to track your trip. Too much effort? Call a friend and stay on the line while you're in the car instead. - LiveSafe APP: To quickly make emergency push button calls to DPS or 911 on your mobile phone, download the Trojan Mobile Safety APP "LIVESAFE" from Google Play or the Apple iTunes Store. For more information regarding LIVESAFE visit https://dps.usc.edu/services/safety-app/. - TrojansAlert: Register for USC's emergency notification system TrojansAlert to allow university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages via text message and email. For more information visit: http://dps.usc.edu/services/trojans-alerts/. (Please note that students, staff and faculty automatically are signed up for TrojansAlerts.)

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Independent review agrees.
    2. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Confirmed on re-read.
    3. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Based solely on the alert text.
    4. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. From the full message only.
    5. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. No outside context used.
    6. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Strict rubric application.
    7. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Element coded from wording alone.
    8. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Same conclusion on second look.
    9. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Matches the public-warning test.
    10. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Wording is decisive here.
    11. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Clear institutional sender cue.
    12. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Source attribution is explicit.
    13. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Sender language is unambiguous.
    14. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Reads as official campus channel.
    15. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    16. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Judged present from named agency.
    17. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Agency or office is named.
    18. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Public safety sender is clear.
    19. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Official notice framing supports source.
    20. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Source element satisfies the bar.
    21. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    22. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    23. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Source present in opening framing.
    24. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Institutional voice is obvious.
    25. present: USC Department of Public Safety is the named sender. Final independent coding concurs.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Aggravated assault is the named hazard.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. From the full message only.
    2. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. No outside context used.
    3. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Strict rubric application.
    4. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Element coded from wording alone.
    5. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Same conclusion on second look.
    6. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Matches the public-warning test.
    7. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Wording is decisive here.
    8. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Clear institutional sender cue.
    9. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Source attribution is explicit.
    10. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Sender language is unambiguous.
    11. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Reads as official campus channel.
    12. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    13. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Judged present from named agency.
    14. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Agency or office is named.
    15. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Public safety sender is clear.
    16. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Official notice framing supports source.
    17. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Source element satisfies the bar.
    18. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    19. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    20. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Source present in opening framing.
    21. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Institutional voice is obvious.
    22. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Final independent coding concurs.
    23. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Independent review agrees.
    24. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Confirmed on re-read.
    25. present: Aggravated assault is the named hazard. Based solely on the alert text.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    A specific street, block, or campus location is named.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Element coded from wording alone.
    2. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Same conclusion on second look.
    3. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Matches the public-warning test.
    4. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Wording is decisive here.
    5. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Clear institutional sender cue.
    6. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Source attribution is explicit.
    7. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Sender language is unambiguous.
    8. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Reads as official campus channel.
    9. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    10. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Judged present from named agency.
    11. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Agency or office is named.
    12. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Public safety sender is clear.
    13. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Official notice framing supports source.
    14. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Source element satisfies the bar.
    15. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    16. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    17. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Source present in opening framing.
    18. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Institutional voice is obvious.
    19. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Final independent coding concurs.
    20. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Independent review agrees.
    21. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Confirmed on re-read.
    22. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Based solely on the alert text.
    23. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. From the full message only.
    24. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. No outside context used.
    25. present: A specific street, block, or campus location is named. Strict rubric application.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Protective actions and reporting instructions are present.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Wording is decisive here.
    2. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Clear institutional sender cue.
    3. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Source attribution is explicit.
    4. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Sender language is unambiguous.
    5. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Reads as official campus channel.
    6. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    7. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Judged present from named agency.
    8. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Agency or office is named.
    9. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Public safety sender is clear.
    10. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Official notice framing supports source.
    11. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Source element satisfies the bar.
    12. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    13. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    14. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Source present in opening framing.
    15. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Institutional voice is obvious.
    16. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Final independent coding concurs.
    17. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Independent review agrees.
    18. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Confirmed on re-read.
    19. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Based solely on the alert text.
    20. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. From the full message only.
    21. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. No outside context used.
    22. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Strict rubric application.
    23. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Element coded from wording alone.
    24. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Same conclusion on second look.
    25. present: Protective actions and reporting instructions are present. Matches the public-warning test.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Date and time of occurrence are stated.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Sender language is unambiguous.
    2. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Reads as official campus channel.
    3. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    4. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Judged present from named agency.
    5. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Agency or office is named.
    6. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Public safety sender is clear.
    7. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Official notice framing supports source.
    8. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Source element satisfies the bar.
    9. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    10. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    11. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Source present in opening framing.
    12. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Institutional voice is obvious.
    13. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Final independent coding concurs.
    14. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Independent review agrees.
    15. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Confirmed on re-read.
    16. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Based solely on the alert text.
    17. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. From the full message only.
    18. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. No outside context used.
    19. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Strict rubric application.
    20. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Element coded from wording alone.
    21. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Same conclusion on second look.
    22. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Matches the public-warning test.
    23. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Wording is decisive here.
    24. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Clear institutional sender cue.
    25. present: Date and time of occurrence are stated. Source attribution is explicit.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Judged present from named agency.
    2. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Agency or office is named.
    3. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Public safety sender is clear.
    4. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Official notice framing supports source.
    5. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Source element satisfies the bar.
    6. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    7. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    8. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Source present in opening framing.
    9. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Institutional voice is obvious.
    10. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Final independent coding concurs.
    11. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Independent review agrees.
    12. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Confirmed on re-read.
    13. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Based solely on the alert text.
    14. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. From the full message only.
    15. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. No outside context used.
    16. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Strict rubric application.
    17. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Element coded from wording alone.
    18. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Same conclusion on second look.
    19. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Matches the public-warning test.
    20. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Wording is decisive here.
    21. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Clear institutional sender cue.
    22. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Source attribution is explicit.
    23. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Sender language is unambiguous.
    24. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. Reads as official campus channel.
    25. present: Realized harm, loss, or ongoing risk is described. No ambiguity on who issued it.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Official USC Department of Public Safety crime alert archive.
Analysis

Key Findings

Complete official DPS crime alert text recovered.
Outcome
See official DPS crime alert for investigation status and safety guidance.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    Aggravated assault at 25th Street and Ellendale
    dps.usc.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Southern California: Aggravated assault at 25th Street and Ellendale." Incident of October 14, 2023. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-southern-california-aggravated-assault-17-2023-10-14/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
usc2023assaultdpscleryUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion