{
  "id": "2019-09-13-university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-sexual-assault-investigation",
  "slug": "university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-sexual-assault-investigation-2019-09-13",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill",
    "shortName": "UNC-Chapel Hill",
    "state": "NC",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Alert Carolina",
    "enrollment": 32000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2019-09-13",
    "endDate": "2019-09-30",
    "type": "sexual-assault",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "resolved",
    "headline": "Sexual assault investigation with follow-ups and arrest notice",
    "headlinePublic": "Sexual assault investigation with follow-ups and arrest notice",
    "summary": "Alert Carolina published a [series of notices on a Chapel Hill Police sexual assault investigation beginning Sept. 13, 2019](https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/13/alert-carolina-informational-message-chapel-hill-police-investigating-sexual-assault/).",
    "outcome": "Investigation updates including additional information request and arrest notice.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "2019-09-13 12:13 (Alert Carolina)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "UPDATE: Informational Message: Chapel Hill Police Continue Sexual Assault Investigation\n\nThe Town of Chapel Hill Police Department has issued the following information:\n\n“Chapel Hill Police is asking for help identifying a suspect wanted in connection with a sexual assault that occurred around 3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.\n\nThe reported assault took place in the parking deck of the Shortbread Lofts at 333 W. Rosemary Street. The suspect was described as a black male wearing dark clothing and standing approximately 5-feet-8-inches tall.\n\nOfficers, including the K-9 unit, immediately began canvassing the area in the attempts to locate the suspect. The investigation is ongoing.\n\nIf you have information about the incident or can identify the suspect, please call the Chapel Hill Police Department between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 919-968-2760. At any time of day, you can call either 911 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.  Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000 for information that leads to arrest.”\n\nContinue to monitor Alert Carolina website (alertcarolina.unc.edu) for updates. For a list of safety tips, see the following link: https://campussafety.unc.edu/carolinasafe/tips/\n\nAbout Informational Messages: Informational Messages are one of three tiers of communication under the University’s emergency communications plan and are sent to inform the campus community about a situation that is not an emergency but is expected to be of significant interest to the campus. The University sends Crime Alerts if there is a continuing danger and notification will not compromise a law enforcement investigation. An Emergency Warning refers to a siren activation for a significant emergency.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/13/alert-carolina-informational-message-chapel-hill-police-investigating-sexual-assault/",
      "sourceDescription": "Alert Carolina official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alertcarolina.unc.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 1776
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "2019-09-16 17:56 (Alert Carolina)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "UPDATE: Alert Carolina Update: Chapel Hill Police Seek Additional Information in Sexual Assault Investigation\n\nThe Town of Chapel Hill Police Department has issued the following update related to their investigation into a sexual assault early Friday, September 13:\n\n“Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue and UNC Police Chief David Perry have been in close contact since a sexual assault that took place around 3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at the Shortbread Lofts.  (http://go.unc.edu/Yo8t2)\n\n‘We have increased our downtown foot patrols and we are grateful for the additional officers that UNC Police has offered to supplement those patrols in our Central Business District,’ said Chief Blue. ‘This increased presence will continue for now. We have dedicated every resource we have to this case and we will bring justice for the victim, the victim’s family, and the community.’\n\nThe investigation is ongoing and we need your help identifying a man who was seen in the area around the time of the event and who matched the description of the suspect (See video at: https://youtu.be/sZMbIP7QYUQ)\n\nReward money is available for information that leads to an arrest in this case. If you have information, please call the Chapel Hill Police Department between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 919-968-2760. At any time of day you can call either 911 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.  Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward currently up to $2,000.\n\nIf anyone feels they are in need of assistance—whether it includes speaking to someone in our Crisis Unit about how they were affected by the news of the assault, information about resources to improve your personal safety, or receiving a site security check by members of our Community Services division—please call 919-968-2760 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you ever feel you are in immediate danger, call 911.”\n\nContinue to monitor Alert Carolina website (alertcarolina.unc.edu) for updates. For a list of safety tips, see the following link: https://campussafety.unc.edu/carolinasafe/tips/\n\nRelated: Informational Message: Chapel Hill Police Investigating Sexual Assault",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/16/alert-carolina-informational-message-chapel-hill-police-continue-sexual-assault-investigation/",
      "sourceDescription": "Alert Carolina official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alertcarolina.unc.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 2215
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "2019-09-18 17:57 (Alert Carolina)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "The Town of Chapel Hill Police Department has issued the following update related to their investigation into a sexual assault early last Friday (Sept. 13):\n\nChapel Hill Police would like to speak with the men pictured here as witnesses to a sexual assault that took place at Shortbread Lofts in the early morning Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. The men were walking westbound on Franklin Street near Mellow Mushroom at 2:40 a.m.\n\nThese men are not suspected of any crime, and are viewed as potentially important witnesses.  If you are one of the men in the photograph, or know these men, please contact Sgt. Britt with the Criminal Investigations Division of Chapel Hill Police at 919-968-2001.\n\nContinue to monitor Alert Carolina website (alertcarolina.unc.edu) for updates. For a list of safety tips, see the following link: https://campussafety.unc.edu/carolinasafe/tips/.\n\nRelated: Alert Carolina Informational Message: Chapel Hill Police Continue Sexual Assault Investigation",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/18/alert-carolina-update-chapel-hill-police-seek-additional-information-in-sexual-assault-investigation/",
      "sourceDescription": "Alert Carolina official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alertcarolina.unc.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 973
    },
    {
      "sequence": 4,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "2019-09-30 20:57 (Alert Carolina)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "UNC STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY:\n\nThe Town of Chapel Hill Police Department has issued the following information in connection with a sexual assault that occurred around 3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.\n\n“The Chapel Hill Police Department arrested Vernon Lamont Reed, 46, of Chapel Hill on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, and charged him with first degree forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and kidnapping. The incident took place around 3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.\n\n‘We would like to thank the community for the many tips that we’ve received in this very difficult case,’ said Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. ‘And, our investigators have worked around the clock for more than two weeks to run those tips down. The tips, the immense amount of community interest in this case, and the hard work of our investigations team are what have led us to the arrest today.’\n\nHe remains in the Orange County Jail under a $500,000 secured bond. His first court appearance will be Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.\n\nIf anyone feels they are in need of assistance—whether it includes speaking to someone in our Crisis Unit about how they were affected by the news of the assault, information about resources to improve your personal safety, or receiving a site security check by members of our Community Services division—please call 919-968-2760 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you ever feel you are in immediate danger, call 911.”\n\nUNC-Chapel Hill thanks the Town of Chapel Hill Police for its strong partnership with the town and campus communities and on its efforts leading to the arrest.\n\nFor a list of safety tips, see the following link: https://campussafety.unc.edu/carolinasafe/tips/.\n\nAbout Informational Messages: Informational Messages are one of three tiers of communication under the University’s emergency communications plan and are sent to inform the campus community about a situation that is not an emergency but is expected to be of significant interest to the campus. The University sends Crime Alerts if there is a continuing danger and notification will not compromise a law enforcement investigation. An Emergency Warning refers to a siren activation for a significant emergency.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/30/alert-carolina-informational-message-chapel-hill-police-make-arrest-in-sept-13-sexual-assault-investigation/",
      "sourceDescription": "Alert Carolina official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alertcarolina.unc.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 2261
    }
  ],
  "context": "Official full text from [Alert Carolina](https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/13/alert-carolina-informational-message-chapel-hill-police-investigating-sexual-assault/).",
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      "url": "https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/notifications/2019/09/13/alert-carolina-informational-message-chapel-hill-police-investigating-sexual-assault/",
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  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "unc-chapel-hill",
    "alert-carolina",
    "timely-warning"
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  "dateAdded": "2026-07-21",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-21",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}