Hickman students chased and threatened during sports practice

COLUMBIA — The Columbia Police Department is looking for three suspects accused of chasing and threatening four Hickman High School students after school Wednesday.

According to a news release from the Police Department, the incident occurred while the students were on a run during a sports practice.  One of the four male students accidentally bumped into the back of an older model red two-door convertible, the news release states.

According to the release, the driver of the vehicle, described as a 6 foot tall white male with a thin build, then got out of the car and started to chase the students, according to the release. The driver continued chasing one of the students after the group separated but abandoned his pursuit after the student managed to run into a business.

Meanwhile, the other three students encountered the same vehicle at the intersection of Eighth and Rogers streets, the news release states, and a white female was driving the car with another white male sitting in the passenger seat.

As the vehicle pulled near the students, the original driver arrived and attempted to start a verbal altercation with the three students, the release states. The male passenger of the vehicle showed a folding knife to the students, who then ran toward the Columbia Police Department, the release states.

After a search of the area, neither the suspects nor vehicle could be found, the police report states.

Anyone with any information is asked to submit a tip on the CrimeStoppers Web site, 875tips.com, or call 875-8477.