Two Georgia Tech students tried to fight off a man who stole a bicycle at knifepoint Wednesday evening, Channel 2 Action News reported.
The 20-year-old students were robbed on campus while riding in a busy courtyard about 11 p.m, authorities said. Though there were other people around, the man targeted the students and took their bike, they said.
Jason Blackett, who was learning to ride, told Channel 2 he was pushing the bicycle when the man walked up to him, pulled a knife and asked if he “really wanted this bike.”
“I was just trying to not act tough,” Blackett said. “I wasn’t trying to get stabbed.”
Sarfaraz Syed, who owns the bike, tried to stop the man as he rode off by swinging his camera bag at him, surveillance footage shows.
At some point during the encounter, the suspect dropped his knife. Police later identified the suspect as Andrew Durham.
“He kind of threw the knife at me,” Syed said. “I’m not sure if he intended to do that or if it slipped out of his hand.”
Syed said he picked the knife up off the ground and chased after the man, who was able to outrun him with the help of his new wheels.
Georgia Tech police said the bicycle was later abandoned on campus, but Durham is still at-large, Channel 2 reported. Investigators said he has tribal tattoos on his right arm.
A surveillance photo of the suspect is being circulated and anyone who sees him is asked to call police.
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