VCU news

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University Police have announced the arrests of two adults and a juvenile in connection with the Aug. 22 assaults of a male student and a male visitor on the Monroe Park Campus. The student was also robbed of a pack of cigarettes.

VCU Police, with assistance from the Henrico County Police Division, arrested 20-year-old Zachary Wallace and 21-year-old Adam Wallace, of the 4900 block of Cavan Green Court in Henrico County. Each was charged with one count of assault or battery by mob. Both have been taken to the Richmond City Jail.

Police also arrested a 17-year-old male from Henrico County.  He is charged with robbery and has been placed in juvenile detention.

None of the suspects is affiliated with VCU. Police said all three suspects played a principal role in the assaults and that others present as part of the group of 15 people were not active participants.    

Police Chief John Venuti said the distribution of security photos and video through the media and anonymous tips sent through the department’s text-a-tip program helped police track down the suspects.

“We received tremendous support and information from the VCU community and from citizens of the surrounding area, which allowed us to further our investigation,” Venuti said.

The assaults were reported to police just before 3 a.m. on Aug 22. Police said members of the group had been patronizing nearby businesses before the assaults took place.

“VCU police detectives have been working on this nonstop,” Venuti said. “We are working very closely with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the Henrico County Police Division as our investigation continues.”