Michael Sun ’16 Chased Down Cornell’s Knife-Wielding Library Laptop Thief, ‘Nobody Else Did Anything’

At approximately 5:30 pm, a young black male reportedly stole a laptop in Olin Library and was chased into and barricaded inside the McGraw clock tower. The unidentified suspect was later apprehended by Cornell University Police shortly before 6:00 pm.
 
The thief was chased through Olin’s first floor by the student whose laptop was stolen, his friend, and a librarian, according to eye witness Michael Sun ’16. However, all were too slow, according to Sun, who said he was the only bystander to give chase as well. Sun chased the thief out of the library and into the clock tower, and retreated outside after the thief told him he had a knife.
 
Later, several other students joined Sun in barricading the door to the tower and calling the police.
 
Michael Sun provided the following statement about the ordeal: “It was pretty unreal how nobody else did anything. We were all yelling at people near the front of Olin to block his path or the exits but literally nobody did anything. They just sat there and watched, and some started laughing. Later, as we were barricading the doors to the clock tower, a crowd formed to watch, but none of them joined in even as we called for help. They were all completely useless. It was totally ridiculous and a sad indictment of our community.”
 
A former student assistant at Olin Library said that he was specifically instructed by his library supervisors to refrain from following or chasing anyone who was caught stealing from the library. These instructions were issued for the safety of the library staff and patrons, according to the former student, who wished to remain anonymous.
 
Sun described the thief as a black male approximately 5’8 aged 18 or 19.
 
The Cornell Sun originally had a similar description, calling the thief “a young African American male”, but has since edited their story remove “African American”.