Editor’s Note: Headline and lead sentence were altered from print version for factual accuracy.
Kansas State student Kenna Hibbs was severely injured early Friday morning on her walk home from Aggieville. Police found her in a yard on the 800 block of Laramie — just two blocks away from her home residence — before transporting her to the Ascension Via Christi ER.
According to the Hibbs’ family statement, Kenna Hibbs “suffered two large lacerations to the top and side of her head requiring stitches and staples, we believe from some type of blunt object, which also caused multiple fractures to her skull and bleeding on the brain.”
Hibbs was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka for further treatment.
Ashley Tokoi, public information officer for the Riley County Police Department, said the investigation will take time to complete.
“An investigation was opened, but at this time we are very uncertain as to what actually happened and are taking our time to diligently gather evidence and try to piece together evidence, to piece together a timeline of exactly what happened,” Tokoi said. “We haven’t even determined how she got the injuries yet.”
RCPD hopes to download information from Hibbs’ phone to help with the investigation.
“The detective who has been assigned to the case just met with Kenna and her family again [Tuesday] … so hopefully we will be able to download some of her cell phone data and get an accurate map of what path she traversed from Aggieville,” Tokoi said. “Everything is still in such a speculation phase that not everything is solid or concrete. The only thing that we have that we are sure is concrete is that there is no imminent threat to the public.”
Emily Taylor, junior in psychology, said she thinks work on Kenna’s case will “fizzle out.”
“There have been too many instances of attacks or violence or threats of violence in and around the Aggieville area and just Manhattan as a whole,” Taylor said. “The police just don’t take it seriously. Period. They have never taken it seriously … I have gotten attacked in my own home and they were more concerned about the fact that I had a beer four hours ago. They are more worried about arresting people for MIPs [minor in possession] than they are actually keeping the people safe … This could have totally been avoided because they just allow these people to go out and attack and the more that they see that there are no reprimands for it, no repercussions for their actions, why would you be afraid of getting arrested?”
K-State has several free safety services like SafeRide and Wildcat Walk Escort Service at 532-6412. Students are encouraged to download the Rave Guardian app, which provides a one-click emergency dial to 911, a “Safe Walk” virtual safety escort, two-way text communication with campus police, a call directory with campus resources, and campus alerts and updates.
Those who have any information on the case are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777.
