Early Tuesday evening, a Phillips Exeter Academy Upper was walking behind Phillips Church when an intruder blindly attacked him. According to The Exonian, Exeter’s student newspaper, although the Upper was not walking alone, the assailant threw violent punches and kicks at the student. A student in a nearby in a nearby dorm heard the student kicking and screaming before going outside, upon which the attacker fled. Within two hours of the attack, students and faculty received an email alerting them of the incident and recommending that they remain indoors and only leave if traveling in a group. The attacker was described as a “white adult male, approximately 5’10” and well built, with a shaved head and a goatee, wearing a black t-shirt and tan shorts.” Community members were asked to contact Exeter’s Safety and Security Department immediately if they had seen anyone around campus who either matched the description of the man or was seen behaving suspiciously. Several PEA Security officers and the Exeter, New Hampshire police officers quickly responded to the emergency. After a visit to the Health Center, Lara’s bumps and bruises were considered minor injuries, and he is fine. The following day, Exeter held an All-School Meeting to give students to explain to students what exactly had happened, how the school was dealing with the drama and how to be prepared if something of this sort were to happen again. Although a sketch made to fit the description of the attacked has been posted all over the Exeter campus, Safety and Security was unable to identify the assailant. They have differed the case to the Exeter Police. At the beginning of April, Andover faced an incident that also caused concern, in which a 29-year old man with New York license plates was seen walking suspiciously around George Washington Hall, Commons and the athletic fields. The man, who has no affiliation with Phillips Academy, engaged in conversations with students and faculty members. He failed to cooperate when a dean asked him to leave campus. Phillips Academy Public Safety was called and subsequently escorted the man off of campus.
