Editor’s Note: The following story contains mention of sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers. This story has been updated with information on UNC Police identifying and charging a suspect.

The UNC Police Department issued an Alert Carolina message Sunday night after receiving a report of sexual assault at McClinton Residence Hall.

The alert to the campus community said police are investigating an incident that reportedly happened around 6:10 p.m., where a suspect followed the victim into McClinton Hall and then its lobby stairwell before groping them. The suspect then left the building by using the lobby stairwell.

The Alert Carolina described the suspect as a male between 18 and 22-years-old with short, curly hair and was wearing sweatpants with a “muted green” shirt. UNC Police issued photos of a person of interest in the case, which were taken from a security camera inside the residence hall on Sunday evening. At 5:26 p.m. on Monday, a second Alert Carolina was issued saying the suspect had been identified and charges had been filed.

Police did not identify the suspect nor victim in the Alert Carolina messages about the sexual assault —which is consistent with university policies regarding student privacy.

Photo via the UNC Police Department.

McClinton Hall — which was previously called Aycock Residence Hall before its name was changed in 2021 due to its prior namesake’s ties to white supremacy — is one of UNC’s mid-campus dorms in the Cobb Community, located off Raleigh Street.

 The university also encouraged all community members to “look out for one another” by being alert to their surroundings and respecting the “rights and boundaries of others.”

Beyond that, UNC cited several resources for community members who have experienced or been emotionally affected by sexual assault to use. Gender Violence Service Coordinators provide confidential support for any campus community member, while Counseling and Psychological Services are available 24 hours a day. The campus’ Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office can also be used to report sexual misconduct and to weigh reporting options, and additional resources can be found on the Safe at UNC website.

While Sunday’s sexual assault report was the first to go out over an Alert Carolina this fall semester, another incident was shared with the campus community days before classes began. UNC Police said on August 7 that a victim reported being raped at the loading dock of the Undergraduate Library and Student Stores the day prior. A spokesperson for the campus police department said Monday that no arrests have been made in that incident.

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