Two separate incidents that occurred near Northeastern University’s Boston campus in the past week were “random acts of violence,” law enforcement officials said, as university leaders emphasized that the campus remained secure with no ongoing danger to the community.
“Our campus is safe at this time,” Ruben Galindo, Northeastern University’s chief of police, told Northeastern Global News. “There is no threat or concern.”
The incidents, both stabbings, occurred on Wednesday and Friday and were not related, Galindo said. He underscored that there was no indication that the university or its community were being targeted.
The suspect in Wednesday’s incident is in custody, while Friday’s incident remains under investigation, according to law enforcement officials.
“We’re in constant communication with the Boston Police Department, assisting with information, including camera footage, to help with the investigation and apprehension of the suspects,” Galindo said. “We also have 24/7 police patrols on campus and have increased patrols since last Friday for visibility and deterrence,” he said.
Northeastern University Chief of Police Ruben Galindo reassured the community that there is no threat or concern following two separate assaults near the Boston campus. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University
On Wednesday morning, Boston police detectives with the help of Northeastern University campus police responded to a report of an incident at 291 Huntington Ave., in the vicinity of the campus. The suspect and victim, neither of whom is affiliated with Northeastern, were involved in an altercation that resulted in a stabbing, Galindo said.
The victim fled to a building near the East Village students’ residence hall, at 291 St. Botolph Street, where NUPD rendered aid, the police chief said.
He said the department immediately sent an alert to the university community following the incident, because part of the crime scene extended to the basement of the residence hall where the victim received assistance, and not due to any threat to students.
“Boston Police needed to process that area, so we evacuated a couple of classrooms in the East Village basement,” Galindo said.
On Wednesday, Boston police said they arrested Stephen Dantzler, 58, of Boston, in connection with the stabbing.
On Friday, officers responded to the area of 21 Forsyth St., near Northeastern University, following reports that a person had been stabbed, according to a statement from the Boston Police Department.
Galindo said campus police had captured the incident on camera. It was determined that the suspect who fled away from campus was not affiliated with the university and did not pose a threat to the campus, he said.
He explained that the police department maintains visibility across the Boston campus through a network of some 1,200 cameras, which provide real-time monitoring and support rapid response to potential safety concerns.
Galindo emphasized that the incidents occurred off campus and that the university remains secure. However, students should remain vigilant when moving through surrounding city areas and report anything suspicious or unusual to NUPD, he said.
“As the weather gets warmer and there’s more activity outside, we tend to see an increase in incidents across the city,” Galindo said. “This is not unusual for a large campus like ours in an urban setting.”
On Wednesday at around 10 p.m., there were reports of shots fired in the vicinity of Hemenway and Gainsborough Streets, near Northeastern campus, Galindo said.
He said that NUPD responded by “saturating the area with patrols” to ensure the driver didn’t return.
“We immediately got on our cameras, identified the vehicle involved, determined the shots were not directed at anyone, and confirmed within seconds that the vehicle left the area and posed no threat,” he said.
Galindo said police did not issue an alert because they determined the driver “was not an imminent or continuing threat to the campus.”
Police have outlined several measures that campus community members can take to help keep themselves safe. They include:
Stay aware, especially at night. Police are asking students to be mindful of their surroundings and limit distractions such as being preoccupied on phones, particularly later in the evening.
Stick with others when you can. While campus remains well-patrolled, officials suggest traveling with friends after dark, being street smart, and trusting instincts in unfamiliar situations.
Take advantage of campus safety resources. Students are encouraged to use tools like the SafeZone app, which connects users directly to NUPD, and to rely on the university’s 24/7 patrols and other support services.
In addition to NUPD, Northeastern University operates a Global Safety Operations Center, a 24/7 hub that monitors global risks and security-related events across its 13 campuses. The center also tracks the location and well-being of students, faculty and staff abroad and coordinates real-time emergency support worldwide.
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Tanner Stening is an assistant news editor at Northeastern Global News. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @tstening90.
