One Arrested in Foiled Kidnapping

October 13, 2015February 25, 2020 The Guardsman

Evacuation of City College Rosenberg Library approximately 11:10 a.m. Due to an altercation from Batmale Hall with a student running into the library for safety after fleeing from two other males at City College on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman) — City College’s Rosenberg Library was evacuated Tuesday morning after a student ran into the library for safety while fleeing from two men at City College. Oct. 13, 2015. Two witnesses saw a weapon during the altercation. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman)

By Calindra Revier/ Editor-in-Chief

A foiled kidnapping attempt on Oct. 13 at City College’s Ocean Campus sparked calls about a man brandishing a handgun that triggered an evacuation of the Rosenberg Library.

The incident began outside of Batmale Hall as Randy Taylor Jr. and a second assailant, both 21, attempted to kidnap a 17-year-old City College student, according to Jeff Hamilton, the school’s director of external affairs.

Randy Taylor, a current City College student, was arrested on charges of robbery, assault, and kidnapping or false imprisonment. He is being held at the San Francisco County Jail.

The second man, a former student who is known to the police, is still at large and was the one carrying a handgun.

“Two witnesses saw the weapon,” Hamilton said.

The pair allegedly threatened the young man and said, “You need to come with us.” They were attempting to take him off campus and threatened he would not return.

As the trio walked past the Rosenberg Library, the victim made a break for the building.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the young man dash through the first set of doors, but when the assailants caught up they started punching and beating him, City College Officer Tiffany Green said.

The young man escaped and ran into the library reportedly yelling, “They’ve got a gun,” according to eyewitnesses. Many library patrons took cover as he locked himself in a room adjacent to the circulation desk.

(Video interview by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman)

The assailants then fled the scene.

“Everybody was running around scared,” City College student and football player Robert Taylor said. “I didn’t know what was going on.”

This was not a random act of violence, according to Hamilton. “They clearly knew each other and clearly had a disagreement.”

They were in a transitional class together and had an altercation last week, according to Officer Green.

“We have some speculation about it but do not know facts,” Hamilton added.

Campus and city police received calls at approximately 10:50 a.m. The campus police response time was about one minute and the SFPD response time was about eight minutes, according to Officer Green.

Otto Pippenger, Bridgid Skiba and Patrick Fitzgerald contributed to this report.

City College students able to enter the library after the evacuation was lifted at 12:45 p.m. After one male running from two other males into the library for saftey which lead up to the evacuation of the altercation that started from Batmale building to the Rosenberg Library building on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman) — City College students were able to enter the library after the evacuation was lifted at 12:45 p.m. Earlier that morning a City College student fled from two other males and into the library for safety. Oct. 13, 2015. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman)

Further information will be made available as it is received.

Contact a reporter

Send an email to: Calindra Revier