A Florida family has pulled their son out of a college in Oakland, California, citing the city's rampant crime as their reason. The family's decision was made after a terrifying ordeal involving a car break-in and lack of police response.
Devastation and shattered dreams have washed over a Florida family after they were forced to make the heart-wrenching decision to pull their son out of an Oakland, California college. The crime wave plaguing the city has left them with no choice but to piece together their shattered hopes for his new life away from home.
Nerissa Murray Watson and her husband made a fateful trip to Oakland to help their son, Rhomel Crossman, settle into his dorm at Lincoln University. Their excitement soon turned into fear when they discovered their rental car windows had been smashed and valuable items stolen. Desperate for help, they called the police, only to be met with a disheartening response.
Oakland Crime Wave Prompts Florida Family to Withdraw Son from College
"When we called the police, they said they can't come now [and] we have to come to the station," recalled Watson. "I said, 'Sorry, we don't know where the station is. We just got robbed. We don't know the area. We are afraid, and can you come and help us?' They said no, they can't come."
Their frustration escalated as they arrived at the police station and were forced to wait outside for 15 minutes before being allowed in. Crossman, a recent high school graduate, had eagerly anticipated attending Lincoln University on a football scholarship. However, the incident has changed everything.
Oakland Crime Wave Prompts Florida Family to Withdraw Son from College
"I was actually excited because I was starting a new chapter in my life, and I was excited because I love playing football," Crossman told Fox News.
The thieves who broke into their car reportedly stole five suitcases, including a bag containing $3,000, personal items like passports and social security cards, and even Crossman's sleep apnea machine. The stolen items have left the family in financial distress and deep concern for Crossman's safety.
Oakland Crime Wave Prompts Florida Family to Withdraw Son from College
Watson expressed her wariness of sending her son to college in Oakland, ultimately deciding to keep him in Florida. Lincoln University President Dr. Mikhail Brodsky responded to the incident in a lengthy statement, acknowledging the situation but downplaying its severity.
"The information about a broken student's car is unpleasant but not unexpected. Such things happen in Oakland, San Francisco, Bay Area, California, and the U.S. It's not the worst thing, there are many worse ones," the statement read in part.
Oakland Crime Wave Prompts Florida Family to Withdraw Son from College
Watson countered Brodsky's statement, emphasizing the lack of support the family received as a major factor in their decision to withdraw Crossman from the university. Oakland locals have attributed the city's crime surge to homeless encampments and the removal of traffic lights to thwart copper theft.
The family's ordeal highlights the growing concern over Oakland's deteriorating safety. The city has seen a rise in smash-and-grab robberies, violent assaults, and even homicides. Residents and visitors alike are increasingly fearful of becoming victims of crime, a sentiment that has reached the doorstep of this Florida family.
Oakland Crime Wave Prompts Florida Family to Withdraw Son from College
