Police probe beating of black University of Iowa student

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A black University of Iowa freshman told police that he was severely beaten by three white men who called him racial slurs, investigators said Wednesday.

The attack was first reported Tuesday night by WLS-TV in Chicago, which said Owens suffered damage to his eye socket, had his front teeth knocked out and injuries to his lip that required stitches.

Students took to social media to express safety concerns and question why they learned about the alleged hate crime from the station, not the university.

The university's interim public safety director, Lucy Wiederholt, said Owens initially came to the campus police department late Monday to report the assault.

A dispatcher referred him to Iowa City police after learning the incident occurred off-campus, which is routine, she said.