Police Identify Person of Interest in Sexual Assault Alleged at Chicago Fraternity Party

University of Chicago police reported that a 21-year-old woman told authorities she was sexually assaulted at a party held at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house off campus last weekend. The university said the victim and the identified person of interest are not students, and the individual has been barred from campus.

According to university press releases, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday. The woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, and university police promptly notified the Chicago Police Department. Police have not made any arrests and have provided no further details.

A witness, identified by The New York Times as Mia Lara, described seeing her friend on the floor with clothing displaced and hearing the victim plead for help. Lara said she pursued the suspect, who fled the scene. A video of the pursuit circulated on social media.

The university issued a statement emphasizing that student safety is a top priority and that all students remain subject to university policies and disciplinary procedures. It also noted that fraternities are not recognized student organizations and have no formal affiliation with the university.

The Alpha Epsilon Pi Lambda chapter said the suspect was expelled from the house, members cooperated with investigators, and a member stayed with the victim until police arrived. The chapter added that the party was shut down immediately after the incident was reported.

The Chicago Sun-Times, citing a police report, indicated that several men blocked the victim’s friends from entering a bathroom where the victim was found partially undressed and not fully conscious, and that a physical altercation occurred between a man and one of the friends. The police report has not been independently obtained by NBC News.

University of Chicago student Alexa Walsh expressed that she hopes the university and fraternity take the allegation seriously.