University Center evacuated after armed robber brings suspicious package into bank
Students and staff were told to leave the University Center and avoid the surrounding area Tuesday after an armed robbery of the UT Federal Credit Union around 11:30 a.m.
A black male entered the UT Federal Credit Union, demanded money and left a suspicious package at the scene, prompting the evacuation. The suspect was wearing white scrubs, a white apron and white mask, according to a UT alert sent to students around noon.
The Knoxville Police Department bomb squad sent in a robot to remove the package and the University Center was re-opened.
“They didn’t really tell us what was going on,” said Nancy Hall, a junior who was having lunch in the UC at the time of the robbery. “So we all just kind of walked out without knowing what was happening.”
At a press conference originally scheduled to address football and holiday traffic and safety, University of Tennessee police officers didn’t answer questions about the robbery but said UT and the FBI would release a joint press release addressing the incident.
The incident is still under investigation, and anyone with information should contact the Knoxville Police Department at 865-215-7450.
More details as they develop on tnjn.com
