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Four men wanted after allegedly threatening three Ohio University students with firearms and yelling racist language

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio University police are investigating an incident in which three students who are Black were allegedly threatened with firearms and had racist language yelled at them.

Officers responded to a report of people displaying firearms near East Union Street and University Terrace on Ohio University’s campus at approximately 1:42 a.m. Sunday, according a press release.

From left to right, a white male wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black shoes a white male wearing a dark green coat with orange accents, blue jeans, and white shoes, and a white male wearing a green sweatshirt, black track pants, black beanie, and white shoes walk along a road as seen by a surveillance camera.
Three men wanted for aggravated menacing by the Ohio University Police Department. [OUPD]
A group of three female students, who are Black, reported hearing two groups of men arguing on East Union Street near Schoonover Center.  The victims told police that they overheard the men using “the N word.”

One of the victims said they yelled to the group of men to challenge their use of the word.

A group of men left the area while another group, three white men seen in the pictures captured by surveillance footage and another man not seen in the pictures whom police described as biracial or Black, allegedly followed the women to Jeff Hill and “yelled racial epithets at them.”

Two of the men then allegedly threatened the victims with what appeared to be firearms with laser sights before fleeing on foot toward Court Street.

A white male wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black shoes
A man wanted for aggravated menacing by the Ohio University Police Department. [OUPD]
Officers searched the area but were unable to locate them, according to the press release.

The men are wanted for aggravated menacing.

Ohio University police are investigating the incident and ask that if the public has any information about this incident or can help identify the men involved, that you contact them at 740-593-1911 or police@ohio.edu.