Three SMU students were held up at gun point and one student was robbed in an attempted car-jacking early Wednesday morning in a parking lot behind the Blue Goose Mexican restaurant on Greenville Avenue and Vickery Boulevard.

The students, junior public relations major Mika Helsley, junior marketing major Chrisy Baraba and junior economics/finance major Mariana Munoz, were physically uninjured by the thief.

“We went to the Hurricane bar for about an hour from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to have a drink because we’ve had a long week with midterms,” Helsley said. “All of a sudden this guy with a gun came up to us.”

Helsley said that the three women walked out with five SMU football players, but the men were parked in another lot behind the Hurricane while they were parked in a back corner behind the Blue Goose.

When the women began their walk to the vehicle, Helsley said the women were approached by a group of guys that she said made them feel uneasy.

Baraba and Helsley waited as Munoz walked to her vehicle alone.

“Usually you just get into your car,” Baraba said. “But this time we just waited for her because of those guys.”

Baraba said the gunman approached her and Helsley first.

“He looked at us, smiled and put his finger up to his mouth to be quiet,” Baraba said. “We started screaming and asking what he was doing.”

“That’s when he pointed the gun at us and told us to shut up. I’ve never seen a gun up close and personal. The barrel was very big.”

Munoz said that she felt the thief walking towards her.

“I looked up and there was a gun pointed at me,” Munoz said “I just opened my door and gave him everything he wanted. I was really calm. I gave it to him and said bye.”

Both Helsley and Baraba witnessed Munoz being forced out of her 1999 Mercedes SUV by the carjacker.

“It was kind of surreal, almost in slow motion. He walked up to her car window, and it was locked,” Helsley said. “She gave him everything and just ran to us. I called 911 and told them we had just been robbed.”

Helsley said that the women’s first instinct was to run and get away from the assailant.

The women then went to Baraba’s Ford Mustang on the other side of the Mercedes SUV. Inadvertently, the three women blocked the thief in the parking lot.

Helsley described the robber as a Hispanic male, 18-20, who wore a black vinyl “poofy” jacket. Helsley added that the barrel handgun was a white-silvery color.

“It was one of those things that happened so fast,” Baraba said. “We weren’t even drunk at all. If that had happened to someone who was drunk, I can’t imagine how they’d handled have it.”

Before the robber was able to get away with the car, police arrived at the scene and the carjacker escaped by leaping over the fence.

“There were about 20 cops on the scene,” Helsley said. “But they didn’t search any yards. We were scared waiting for the cops. We were sitting in that car, and we did not feel safe at all.”

The only thing the robber got away with was Munoz’s purse and $20. She canceled all of her credit cards and cell phone within 20 minutes.

Munoz received good news Wednesday afternoon when a woman called her to return the belongings the thief stole. The resident found Munoz’s personal information in her yard.

“I got all of my belongings back. Everything was there except for my purse and cell phone,” Munoz said. “I was very fortunate. He could have been you’re coming with me and drove me away with him.”

Helsley said the owner of the Hurricane came out to ensure that the women were OK. The owner added that an incident occurred over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, involving one of his employees.

In that case, the Hurricane employee was followed home, hit over the head with a gun and robbed of $500 in tip money.

“I thought we were safe because there were three of us but apparently not,” Baraba said. “We were parked in the back corner of the lot which is not very safe. It kind of makes you think twice.”

After the robbery, the women had Munoz’s car towed back to campus where the SMU Police Department escorted the women home and posted surveillance on the vehicle.

“[SMU PD] were so nice. They put a boot on the car so no one would steal it,” Helsley said. “I’m very impressed with how kind they were. Dallas police – I guess they’re used to it.”

Helsley said that the attempted robbery made her reflect on past decisions.

“There have been so many times when friends have left early and alone. That’s kind of a wake-up call,” Helsley said. “That [location’s] an easy target to get robbed. You think it’s safe because the Blue Goose is a familiar spot, but that lot is so dark and it’s not well-lit.”

Baraba added that students, especially females, need to be safer by being more conscious of the area and where they park.

“Definitely don’t walk alone out there. You need to park close to the door or valet,” Baraba said. “As a girl you should walk with a guy friend whenever possible.”

Both women will take extra precautions in the future.

“What I have seen from this is you think you’re safe in familiar places,” Helsley said. “At times you forget you’re in Dallas with a lot of crazy people.”