{
  "id": "2026-05-25-northern-illinois-university-castle-drive-aggravated-assault",
  "slug": "northern-illinois-university-castle-drive-aggravated-assault-2026-05-25",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Northern Illinois University",
    "shortName": "NIU",
    "state": "IL",
    "type": "public-r2",
    "alertSystemName": "NIU Safety Notification",
    "enrollment": 16000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-05-25",
    "type": "aggravated-assault",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "unknown",
    "headline": "Knife assault on Castle Drive East Lagoon",
    "headlinePublic": "Knife assault on Castle Drive East Lagoon",
    "summary": "NIU Police [posted a safety warning after an aggravated assault with a knife in the 200 block of Castle Drive](https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/index.shtml) around 1:15 a.m., asking the community to avoid the area or take precautions.",
    "outcome": "Suspect fled northwest on a bicycle before officers arrived. No further product on the live bulletin this pass."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Incident ~1:15 a.m. Monday May 25, 2026; bulletin published next business day per NIU policy",
      "channel": "website",
      "verbatimText": "The NIU Police Department is investigating a report of an Aggravated Assault that occurred on Monday, May 25, 2026 at approximately 1:15 AM, in the 200 block of Castle Drive. The victim reported he was assaulted with a knife while walking by an individual on a bicycle.\n \n The suspect is described as follows: Caucasian male with short black hair and a beard, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and gray pants.\n \n The suspect fled northwest from scene by bicycle prior to law enforcement arrival. Please avoid or take necessary precautions while in the area.\n\nIf you have any information related to this incident or if you witness any suspicious activity, please get to a safe location and report it immediately to the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety at 815-753-1212, or the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling 815-753-TIPS (8477). In an emergency, please call 911. Suspicious activity may also be reported through the NIU Safe App. The app is now available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play. See go.niu.edu/niusafe for more details about the app.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "confidence": "high",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/index.shtml",
      "sourceDescription": "NIU Safety Notifications bulletin: Aggravated Assault, 200 block of Castle Drive",
      "annotations": [
        "Dual HTML match of the Details field 2026-08-30. Incident/Date/Location table chrome omitted; Details body stored. Official go.niu.edu/niusafe preserved.",
        "Distinct incident from 2024-10-20-northern-illinois-university-shooting: Castle Drive East Lagoon knife assault, not the 2024 shooting."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1119
    }
  ],
  "context": "NIU publishes Safety Notifications at [niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin](https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/index.shtml).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official aggravated-assault safety warning with suspect description and avoid-the-area guidance."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "NIU Safety Warning - Aggravated Assault - 200 block of Castle Drive",
      "url": "https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/index.shtml",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-08-30"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "niu",
    "2026",
    "aggravated-assault"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-08-31",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-08-31",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}