The SIU Department of Public has identified six suspects, two of which are in custody, in the attack of an individual Tuesday night by the Agriculture Building, a former student who says he is the victim said.

Chris Hooks, a 26-year-old alumnus who was attacked while walking toward the library about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, said DPS is searching for the others. The arrested suspects are not affiliated with the university, according to an SIU Alert.

Hooks, of St. Elmo, said he was punched three to four times before falling to the ground on the sidewalk in between the Agriculture Building and Thompson Woods. He said when he fought back, the attackers, who he didn’t know, fled into Thompson Woods.

Hooks said the incident lasted about 30 seconds.

“I had gotten a phone call and 20 seconds later I hear a ‘skip, skip, skip’ come running up behind me, so I look over my right shoulder and I see this dude running up behind me and he just jumps up, spins and unloads in my face,” said Hooks, who has a bachelor of economics, a bachelor of marketing and a master of economics from the university. “I think I blacked out for a second.”

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Luke Nozicka can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lukenozicka.