A University of Chicago student fought off an armed robber last week and lost her phone — but took the magazine from his gun and tossed it into bushes before running away.

The student, who identified herself as Maddi to WGN, said she was one of two students who were walking on opposite sides of the South University Avenue just off campus and were attacked by four armed suspects who fled in a four-door black Infiniti.

Minutes after those two robberies, another student was robbed by two armed suspects nearby, also off campus. Those suspects also fled in a black, four-door vehicle.

Chicago police later said they had arrested two teen boys in connection with another nearby robbery that targeted three men. Police said they believe the 16- and 17-year-old boys are connected to the spree of robberies near the university campus.

Maddi, a university senior, told WGN that she was walking home from class when she was approached by one of the robbers.

“You never think it’s going to be you. I was walking on South University, which is a major artery of this school, it’s well-populated, it was broad daylight,” she said.

The man who approached her demanded her phone.

“He flashes the gun towards me and I kind of just go blank, I throw the phone behind my hands, we get into this tussle, and he eventually gets the phone from me,” Maddi said. “I was grabbing maybe for my phone, maybe the gun, it’s really a blackout moment for me, and I realize that I was able to grab the magazine out of the gun.”

She tossed the magazine into a bush, froze for a moment, and then ran.

“I couldn’t necessarily really register the threat ahead of me, so definitely wouldn’t advocate for fighting back. Losing a life over a phone is definitely not worth it,” Maddi said.

Police now have that magazine, however.

After the three robberies in one day last week, the school issued an update about steps it is taking to help reduce the incidents, including additional campus police officers both on and near the campus. They’ve also requested additional units in the area from Chicago Police.

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[Featured image: University of Chicago/Pixabay]