Crimeupdated 1h ago3 min read
University of Chicago Identifies Person of Interest in Sexual Assault Near Campus Fraternity Party
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Person of interest identified in alleged sexual assault at UChicago fraternity. Not a student or affiliated with the university; banned from campus.
Person of interest named
The University of Chicago identified a person of interest in an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity party near the campus, and the university said the individual is not a student or affiliated with the school.
The university wrote, "The individual is not a University of Chicago student or affiliated with the University. The University banned him from campus," and it said the identification was corroborated by key witness statements and video evidence from university cameras and license plate readers.
Chicago police said no one had been charged Wednesday, and the police investigation continued after the university posted an alert saying a person of interest had been identified.
The university said a woman not affiliated with the university reported she was sexually assaulted during a party at a fraternity house at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, and the university said an individual was interviewed and the suspect fled the house.
The university said it would not release the name of the person of interest as the Chicago Police Department's investigation continues, while the university police arranged for the alleged victim to be transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
What police and fraternity said
Chicago police said the 21-year-old woman reported being sexually assaulted during a party at an Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house near the University of Chicago campus, and the university said the perpetrator fled the house after being confronted by another person. The university said the perpetrator fled the house after being confronted by another person, and the university said the woman reported the assault early Sunday during a party at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house. Jonathan Pierce said the fraternity's University of Chicago chapter rushed to help the woman after being alerted by one of her friends and ended the party immediately, and he said, "There is no evidence at all that any AEPi members participated in this assault or were aware of it while it was transpiring."
The fraternity's national organization told the chapter to pause all events and programs while it cooperated with the investigation, and the fraternity said it unconditionally opposes conduct considered as "sexual harassment" or "sexual assault." The Chicago Police Department and Alpha Epsilon Pi did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment, while the university said it had shared video evidence with Chicago police through the Department of Safety & Security.
Broader campus scrutiny
The case unfolded as the University of Chicago said fraternities are not Recognized Student Organizations at UChicago and thus have no formal affiliation with the university, while the university said all University students are subject to university policies and disciplinary procedures. The university said it would hold to addressing sexual misconduct cases that occur, and it said it was "deeply concerning for the University community" while many people at the University were working to support the victim and assist CPD in its response. The reporting also tied the Chicago case to heightened awareness of sexual violence on college campuses, including an uproar over Cornell University's handling of a woman's allegations that she was drugged and gang raped by fraternity members in 2024.
The University of Chicago said it would include New York State Police in investigations of campus sexual assaults, and the reporting said fraternities also faced scrutiny at the University of Arizona after it suspended fraternity activities earlier this month following multiple reports of assault, hazing and other misconduct. The investigation remained ongoing with no arrests reported in the sources, and the university said it had identified a person of interest and banned the individual from campus while Chicago police continued investigating.