Investigators say the attacker jumped a campus wall and fled before officers arrived.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Miami Gardens police are searching for a man who raped a Florida Memorial University student on campus early Sunday, just after 7 a.m., and then escaped the grounds, authorities said. The suspect, described as about 6 feet tall in a black hoodie and black pants, remains at large.
Police and university officials said the assault has prompted stepped-up patrols and tighter access checks at the historically Black university as detectives review how the assailant breached campus. The victim, an international student, was attacked near a building entrance after returning from a nearby bus stop, according to investigators. Detectives are gathering surveillance video, canvassing the area and asking witnesses to come forward as they piece together a precise timeline and route of escape. No arrest had been announced as of Tuesday morning, and officials have not released the victim’s name. The case has heightened safety concerns among students and parents as the spring term gets underway.
Police said the student noticed an unknown man whistling at her near a bus stop off Northwest 42nd Avenue before she re-entered campus through a security checkpoint. Investigators say the man then jumped a wall to gain access, chased her toward a dorm area and assaulted her near a doorway before running away. Officers were called soon after the attack and searched the perimeter and surrounding streets. “We are here to be protected and they are not doing their job,” freshman Adonis Clarke said Monday, calling for more patrols and working gate cameras. Officers have urged anyone who saw a man in dark clothing near the southern edge of campus around daybreak Sunday to contact detectives.
Detectives said they are reviewing campus and city surveillance footage, including cameras along Northwest 42nd Avenue and entrances on and off 15800 NW 42nd Ave. The victim described her attacker as a man roughly 6 feet tall wearing a black hoodie and black pants; police have not released additional identifying details and have not said whether a weapon was used. The student was examined at a hospital and provided support services. University officials said they increased officer presence at gatehouses, expanded ID checks and requested additional Miami Gardens patrol units through the week. Investigators placed the incident time shortly after sunrise Sunday; accounts provided to reporters ranged from about 6:15 to just after 7 a.m. as detectives reconcile statements with video.
Florida Memorial University, founded in 1879 and based in Miami Gardens, serves about 1,000 students and is one of Florida’s four historically Black colleges and universities. The campus sits along NW 42nd Avenue near several residential neighborhoods and industrial lots, with multiple fenced boundaries and controlled vehicle access points. In recent semesters, students have pressed for brighter lighting and more roaming patrols around dormitories and parking areas. City and campus police coordinate patrols around the perimeter, especially at shift changes and early morning hours when transit riders return from overnight work. Records show nearby agencies have responded to sporadic property crimes in the area, though reports of sexual battery on campus are less common.
Police said the case is being investigated as sexual battery under Florida law. Detectives are pursuing tips, obtaining warrants for additional video and phone records, and preparing any DNA evidence collected for analysis. Authorities said they expect to release a refined suspect timeline and any composite imagery if warranted. No charges have been filed, and no person of interest has been publicly named. Miami Gardens police said they plan a media availability if a significant lead emerges. University officials said temporary security measures will remain in place this week, with updates to students via campus alerts. Any formal briefing by administrators had not been scheduled as of early Tuesday.
On campus Monday, students described a heavier police presence and lines at gatehouses. “It’s crazy … they need to do a better job,” Clarke said, adding that classmates are walking in groups and avoiding dim routes. A maintenance worker said crews replaced bulbs near building entrances and checked locks on side doors. A student government representative said peers want clearer communication about which gates are staffed overnight and whether escorts are available before dawn. Several parents arrived to pick up students for off-campus stays, while others met with resident advisors to discuss routine checks of cameras and call boxes.
As of Tuesday morning, police had not announced an arrest and were still collecting video from businesses along NW 42nd Avenue and streets bordering the southern wall. Investigators said they aim to release an update on the suspect description and timeline later this week.
Author note: Last updated January 27, 2026.