Syracuse police say Ackerman Avenue assault was not racially motivated

The Syracuse Police Department on Tuesday morning said the Saturday morning assault along Ackerman Avenue did not appear to be racially motivated, contradicting statements circulating among Syracuse University community members.

“At this point in the investigation, after speaking with victims and witnesses, it does not appear that this incident was motivated by race,” SPD said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing, SPD said.

Just after 12:40 a.m. on Saturday, SPD responded to an assault call in the 800 block of Ackerman Avenue. A white woman suspect struck three people in the head, possibly with a handgun, before fleeing on foot with a white man in an unknown direction, SPD said.

A statement that circulated among SU students on Monday accused SPD and the Department of Public Safety of mishandling the incident. The statement, signed by “Your Fellow Students,” said that three students of color were assaulted by three white men and one white woman.

Thank you to all of you that have been concerned❤️This is the official statement about the events that took place Friday night. pic.twitter.com/Fbs9Dw35Fr

— CAY EASYYYY (@CDJx3) February 11, 2019

The statement prompted SU’s Student Association to publicly condemn DPS for its “lack of transparency” over what SA called a racially-charged crime.

Victoria Payne, a second year SU student studying social work, said she attended the birthday party where the assault occurred. People at the event told Payne a white woman, who yelled a racial slur, struck three students of color while three white men also attacked the students, she said.  

— Asst. News Editor Casey Darnell contributed reporting to this story.