Campus Alert Archive
Vanderbilt

Gun to Her Back at 6:55 AM: Vanderbilt Student Robbed Walking Near Campus as Same Suspect Targets Elderly Woman Hours Later

TNrobberytimely warningmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On September 21, 2024, at 6:55 AM, a 20-year-old Vanderbilt student was robbed at gunpoint while walking near the intersection of 32nd Avenue and Orleans Drive. The suspect approached from behind, pressed a gun to her back, and demanded her belongings. The same man, Marquis Douglas, 42, later attempted to rob an 89-year-old woman on Park Avenue and was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Vanderbilt University
Private R1 · TN
~13,710 studentsAlertVU
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction445 chars
AlertVU SECURITY NOTICE: Vanderbilt Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at approximately 6:55 AM on Saturday, September 21, in the area of 32nd Avenue South and Orleans Drive. A student was approached from behind by a male suspect who placed a gun to her back and demanded her belongings. The victim gave the suspect cash and he fled the area on foot. Anyone with information should contact Vanderbilt Police at 615-322-2745.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from WSMV Nashville and Nashville Metro Police reporting; the alert was issued as a Security Notice under AlertVU
32nd Avenue and Orleans Drive is within walking distance of the Vanderbilt campus, in a residential area south of campus
The suspect was later identified as Marquis Douglas, 42, who attempted another robbery later that same day
Context

Background

On the morning of September 21, 2024, a 20-year-old Vanderbilt University student was robbed at gunpoint while walking near 32nd Avenue and Orleans Drive at 6:55 AM CDT. The suspect approached from behind, pressed a gun to the student's back, and demanded her belongings. The victim gave the suspect $70 and he fled on foot. Later that same day, the same individual attempted to rob an 89-year-old woman on Park Avenue, leading to his arrest. Marquis Douglas, 42, was charged with aggravated robbery of the Vanderbilt student and attempted robbery of the elderly woman, and jailed on a combined bond of $110,000. The Vanderbilt Hustler reported that the university's annual security report showed a decrease in violent crimes overall in 2024, though theft and drug violations increased.
Analysis

Key Findings

The robbery occurred at 6:55 AM, an unusually early hour that caught the student walking alone near campus
The same suspect attempted to rob an 89-year-old woman later that day, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior that police were able to link
The quick arrest with a $110,000 bond reflected the seriousness of the charges and the connection between the two incidents
Outcome
Marquis Douglas, 42, was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery of the Vanderbilt student and attempted robbery of the 89-year-old woman. He was jailed on a total bond of $110,000.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Student robbed near Vanderbilt leaves others in area on edge (WSMV Nashville)
    wsmv.com
  2. Official
    Man Arrested for Attempted Robbery Connected to Armed Robbery of Vanderbilt Student (Nashville.gov)
    nashville.gov
  3. Student Paper
    Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Vanderbilt Hustler)
    vanderbilthustler.com
Tags
robberyarmed-robberygunpointarresttennesseeprivate-university
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion