Miami Gardens detectives say a tip and rapid lab work identified a 30-year-old man now jailed pending charges.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Miami Gardens police on Wednesday identified Steven Devon Mason Rivers, 30, as the suspect in a sexual battery reported early Sunday on the Florida Memorial University campus, saying a tip and a DNA match connected him to the attack and led to his arrest.
The case drew swift attention on and off campus after the student, an international attendee at the historically Black university, reported being assaulted near a residence hall. Police said they moved quickly, securing a DNA warrant, working with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office crime lab and coordinating with neighboring agencies. By early Wednesday, investigators had a confirmed match and took Rivers into custody. He was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as detectives prepared formal charges. University leaders said internal security would remain heightened while the investigation continues.
Detectives said the assault began off campus when the student encountered a man while waiting at a bus stop on NW 42nd Avenue late Saturday or early Sunday. She returned toward campus, where officials said the man followed. Investigators said the attacker scaled a campus fence before approaching the student near a doorway. When she refused to lend her cellphone, he pinned her against a door and sexually battered her before fleeing. Police later shared surveillance video showing a person jumping a fence around the time of the attack. Executive Officer to the Chief Emmanuel Jeanty said during a Wednesday briefing that his team “was very relentless,” adding that a directive was issued that no one would leave until a suspect was in custody. Jeanty credited the crime lab for working overnight to expedite results.
Officials identified the suspect as Rivers after a community tip came through the Opa-locka Police Department describing a man wearing clothing similar to what the attacker wore: a black hoodie and black pants. Investigators executed a DNA warrant and said the county lab confirmed a positive match at about 7 a.m. Wednesday. Local jail records listed Rivers as homeless. As of Wednesday afternoon, he faced one count each of sexual battery and robbery by sudden snatching, with bond “to be set,” according to an arrest report described by police. Lead investigator Stephanie Saint-Fleur of the department’s special victims unit said detectives believe there may be additional victims and asked anyone with information to contact the agency. The student, a Colombian citizen studying at FMU on a visa, was evaluated after the attack, police said. Her name was not released under agency policy.
Florida Memorial University, founded in 1879 and located in northwest Miami-Dade, enrolls roughly 1,200 students. Campus security officers check IDs at controlled entry points, but officials acknowledged the suspect bypassed security by hopping a fence. In a campus message Wednesday, President William C. McCormick Jr. said the university has increased monitoring across campus and reinforced safety procedures in coordination with Miami Gardens police. Records cited by investigators show Rivers had been released from jail in December on a lewd and lascivious behavior case unrelated to the campus attack. Police did not immediately detail where Rivers had been staying since that release, beyond listing him as homeless in booking paperwork. The department said it is reviewing whether any prior incidents could be tied to him.
Detectives said they are still pinpointing the exact minute-by-minute timeline between the bus stop encounter and the assault near a residence hall door. They are also comparing surveillance footage from multiple angles around the time of the attack and conducting additional interviews. Charges may be amended after prosecutors review the lab results and witness statements, investigators said. A first court appearance could occur as soon as Thursday, when bond and any no-contact orders would be addressed. Police said they plan to release an updated report after evidence is processed and additional canvasses are completed. Any search warrants related to Rivers’ clothing or property would be filed in Miami-Dade court, where case numbers typically post within 24 hours of booking.
On campus Wednesday, students moved between classes under stepped-up patrols. Some described taking different routes after dark or walking in groups. “It’s scary to think someone climbed a fence and did that,” said freshman Adonis Clarke, who added that he wants to see more lighting near dorm entrances. Outside the main gate, a security officer scanned IDs while a facilities crew checked fence lines. Neighbors along NW 42nd Avenue said they noticed police canvassing door-to-door after sunrise. “We saw officers looking at cameras up and down the block,” said Yolanda Martinez, who lives near the campus perimeter. In a short statement, the student government association thanked investigators and said counseling services were available for classmates.
As of Wednesday evening, Rivers remained in county custody as detectives finalized paperwork and prosecutors reviewed the arrest. Police said lab work is continuing on additional items collected at the scene. Officials said the next public update could come after Rivers’ initial appearance in court, expected as early as Thursday morning, or once additional evidence reviews are complete.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.