Suspects arrested in armed robbery of college student
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — A man and a woman suspected of robbing a Slippery Rock University student at gunpoint last month are in custody.
Nyasia J. Middleton, 18, and Monir Hall Jr., 22, both of Pittsburgh, broke into a University Village apartment about 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 and stole 20 grams of marijuana, valued at $400, about $150 cash, and a watch from Thomas A. Mansfield, 20, according to the criminal complaints filed against them.
Hall allegedly held Mansfield at gunpoint with a small silver handgun and threatened to kill him while Middleton searched the apartment.
Mansfield told police that the robbers were both wearing dark clothing and had panty hose pulled over their heads, but said he was able to recognize Middleton's voice as the two had played basketball together in the past at the university's recreation center.
Mansfield said Middleton also lived in the University Village apartment complex on Keister Road, but in a different building.
Police attempted to contact Middleton the night of the incident but were unable to locate her, according to the complaint.
The next day police found Middleton and questioned her.
She claimed she had been in Pittsburgh throughout the day of the robbery. Police later obtained a search warrant for Middleton's cell phone information and found that she had placed calls from the Slippery Rock area that day.
Middleton was interviewed a second time on Wednesday and admitted to her involvement in the robbery. She told police that Hall held Mansfield at gunpoint.Middleton said she met Hall last year while both were enrolled at SRU.It is not known whether the two suspects are still attending SRU.Both Middleton and Hall are in Butler County Prison on $25,000 and $50,000 bail, respectively, facing felony charges for conspiracy, robbery and threatening bodily injury.The suspects have a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday in front of District Judge Timothy Shaffer in Slippery Rock.
