CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — One adult and one juvenile were arrested early Sunday morning in Campustown for allegedly attacking two U. of I. students and displaying a handgun.

At 12:15 a.m., police were called to the 300 block of East Green Street, Champaign, where it was reported that a man “jumped out” at a female student in an apparent attempt to scare her, and then invaded her personal space. When her male friend attempted to intervene, several people in a group began punching and kicking him. The female student was pushed to the ground.

At one point during the attack, one of the men lifted his shirt to display a handgun in his waistband. The attacking group then left the area. Witness reports regarding the number of people in the group vary, but it is suspected that at least three to four people were involved.

Because of the unprovoked nature of the attack and the display of a handgun, University Police issued an Illini-Alert emergency notification to all students, faculty and staff. The alert referenced “mob action,” which is defined in Illinois criminal law as two or more people engaging in violence.

The male U. of I. student received several non-life-threatening lacerations and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

Officers quickly found a car occupied by several people, two of whom matched clothing descriptions provided by witnesses. Police stopped the vehicle in the 200 block of East Green Street and detained the occupants.

Kayveon A. Watkins, 20, of Champaign, was identified as one of the people involved in the attack and told police that he had a gun in his pants. Officers recovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine. Watkins was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery, and mob action.

Upon searching the vehicle, police found a second loaded handgun on the floor in the backseat, and officers learned that it belonged to a 15-year-old who was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the University Police at 217-333-1216. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477 (373-TIPS), by visiting www.373tips.com or by providing information through the P3 Tips mobile app available on iOS and Android. All messages to Crime Stoppers are electronically stripped of identifying information and forwarded to police by an independent third party.

Please note, those arrested are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and formal charges may change as cases are adjudicated.