NMSU investigates sexual assault, attempted robberies on campus

The mother of a 17-year-old NMSU student is angry the school never notified her that someone tried to sexually assault her daughter on campus.

Since last week, NMSU police said three women have been targeted on campus. Twice, they said, a man tried to rob them before running away.

The third time, they said a man tried to sexually assault a 17-year-old. Tonya Do said that girl was her daughter and she’s outraged with how the school handled it.

“Where were the cops when she was yelling for help, where were they?” Do asked.

Do told ABC-7 she was horrified to learn someone tried to hurt her daughter while on campus. She says it happened while her daughter was walking alone at night near Chamisa Village.

“He grabbed her from the side and was asking her if she wanted to hang out and everything and then he started going up her skirt,” Do said. “I said, ‘Why didn’t they call me?’ I said, ‘You’re underage, you’re a minor, why didn’t they call me?’ And she said, ‘I told them I didn’t want you to be called.'”

NMSU police Chief Steven Lopez told ABC-7 they don’t have to notify the victim’s parents in a case like these.

“We will not do that unless the victim wants us to,” he said. “We will offer it to the victim and offer them a variety of services that may be available and most victims do take us up on those services.”

Police said a man also targeted a woman at the NMSU business complex and the school’s natatorium. While police said they’re doing everything they can to protect their students, Do remains fearful.

“I want to know what’s being done. I want to know they’re doing everything they can to find this guy and for the future to protect these children,” she said.

NMSU police said they don’t know if there’s one man or multiple men responsible for all three incidents.

In alerts sent out by NMSU police, all three cases describe the potential suspect as a Hispanic male in his early 20’s around 5-foot-5 and a thin build. He was possibly wearing a gray short-sleeved T-shirt, blue jeans and carrying a black backpack.

He was possibly wearing a baseball cap. The suspect was described as having “sleeves” or numerous tattoos on both arms.

Police ask anyone who has seen someone who fits the description to immediately dial 911 or (575) 646-3311 and provide a suspect location and description to the dispatcher.