URBANA, Illinois – The University of Illinois Police Department continues to investigate an early morning battery on a building service worker Monday at Gregory Hall.

The employee reported that he was working inside the building around 4:09 a.m. when he was struck in the head from behind by an offender who quickly left the area. University Police officers immediately searched the building and the surrounding area following the report and did not find a suspect.

The incident did not meet Clery Act criteria for campuswide notification. University Police have been providing extra patrol resources in the area of Gregory Hall since the incident.

University Police detectives and the Division of Public Safety’s Security Coordinator are assigned to the case and are interviewing witnesses, reviewing hours of security video from multiple cameras and analyzing license plate reader data to identify people who were in the area around the time of the attack.

“Criminal investigations are complex, especially with the amount of digital evidence we have at hand,” said University Police Assistant Chief Joe McCullough. “We appreciate community members’ patience as we work through that investigation, and their understanding that we cannot disclose specific details of the investigation until it is complete.”

The Division of Public Safety Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) is coordinating with Facilities and Services to offer safety information and training to F&S staff.

The investigation is ongoing, and University Police ask that anyone with information contact police by calling 217-333-1216 or emailing police@illinois.edu. 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.