Lane College Students Arrested After On-Campus Robbery
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JACKSON, Tenn.–Jackson police arrested two Lane College students following an armed robbery on campus. Officers say one of the students stole a jacket. Police say the robbery happened around 1 a.m. Tuesday at Edens Hall, an on-campus dormitory. “Another situation where the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Robert Jones, a sophomore. Jones say the stick up is not a surprise. “It’s so normal that it’s just like, it’s just like another conversation,” he said. Officers say Dowlen, 19, asked to buy a jacket that the victim was wearing. Dowlen told the victim that he would pay him later. When the victim told Dowlen that he would need the money now, Dowlen displayed a handgun and demanded the jacket. The victim complied with Dowlen’s demand. The victim pointed out Dowlen to police while officers were on scene. Dowlen was taken into custody. Officers recovered the victim’s jacket in Dowlen’s room. While officers were there, they were alerted to another student walking away with a book bag. Police received information that this student had been with Dowlen earlier. Officers approached this student on the parking lot of Edens Hall and identified him as Terrance Becton, 20. Becton was also a resident of Edens Hall. Officers were given permission to search, and they found a handgun and marijuana inside the book bag. “The fact that a loaded handgun was on campus is extremely serious, a potentially dangerous situation,” said Captain Tyreece Miller, with the Jackson Police Department. Officers believe the robbery is an isolated incident. Police say the suspects and victim all lived in the same building. “The victim obviously knew the attacker,” said Miller. “This wasn’t a stranger type situation.” No one was injured in the robbery. Students say they have to protect themselves. “It wouldn’t surprise me any type of situation around this area,” said Jones. Police expect to charge Dowlen with aggravated robbery. Becton will be charged with tampering with evidence and simple possession of marijuana. Both men face a charge for having a weapon on school property. Dowlen and Becton are due in Jackson City Court Wednesday at 8 a.m. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News reached out to Lane College several times Tuesday. The school did not make a comment.
