Evanston Teacher Robbed At Gunpoint By Teen With Knife: Police

EVANSTON, IL —A teacher was robbed at gunpoint after leaving work at Nichols Middle School Thursday, according to police and school officials.

Around 4 p.m., the 31-year-old man was approached around the corner of Lee Street and Elmwood Avenue by someone he didn't recognize who brandished a gun and grabbed him, police said.

"Give me your wallet," the robber demanded, according to Cmdr. Ryan Glew. After the teacher turned over his wallet and cellphone, the robber pocketed the silver and black gun and pulled out a knife. He asked the teacher for the code to unlock the phone and warned him not to call to police before walking away.

Police said robber was last seen heading east on Lee Street and turning north on Sherman Avenue. The teacher ran back to Nichols and notified school staff.

"While certainly upset by the situation, thankfully, they are okay," according to a joint statement from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Interim Superintendents Phil Ehrhardt and Heidi Wennstrom. "Upon learning of the incident, Nichols administrators immediately brought all students and staff who were still on school grounds into the building as a safety precaution."

The robber was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall and between 16 and 19 years old, police said. He was wearing a gray hoodie, gray sweatpants with white on them, white shoes with red highlights and a black cloth covering the bottom of his face, according to police.

Police assigned a special watch to the area around the middle school through the start of the winter break, according to the superintendents. They said the administration would do everything possible to support the staff member involved and announced additional mental health staff would be available Friday at the school.

Officers were able to track the stolen iPhone using an app, according to Glew. Police discovered the robber had dumped it in the 800 block of Lee Street underneath some shingles and leaves.