On Tuesday, March 19 at 8 p.m, law enforcement officers pursued a suspect along Hughes Avenue. The suspect crashed their car into a dead end near Walsh Gate, then fled southbound, away from campus.

Students received texts from Public Safety between 8 and 9 p.m. informing them to “Avoid Hughes Avenue from Fordham Road to Campus.” Later in the evening, they received an “all clear” text. 

“The vehicle was resting on the fence that surrounds the university property. It was later learned that the crash was a result of pursuit by an FBI Task Force,” said Robert Fitzer, associate vice president for Public Safety. “No one from Fordham University was involved in the pursuit or any aspect of the investigation.”

Students also learned of a double homicide that happened in the neighborhood around the same time. This incident was not mentioned in the email Public Safety sent out to students and families. 

“The university wasn’t aware of the double homicide until after the incident was over and we had sent the all-clear message,” said Fitzer.

Lots of students used the app Citizen to stay updated on the situation. 

“It was kind of terrifying for me because I was on my way home and I heard there was a crash on Hughes and possible gunshots,” said Meabh McGroary, FCRH ’26. “My sister was stuck in the library and she lives off-campus so we didn’t know where she was going to go.”

Public Safety issues notifications in compliance with the Clery Act, which focuses on crimes taking place on college campuses and requires colleges and universities to record campus crime statistics and safety policies. 

“The notifications are sent without delay, regardless of the hour, unless the notification will compromise efforts to assist victims or to contain the emergency,” said Fitzer. “The university avoids using personally identifying information to afford crime victims as much privacy as possible.”