A 19-year-old University of Maryland student, Alexander Song, was arrested yesterday for threatening to go on a shooting rampage at the College Park campus, The Baltimore Sun is reporting. He posted comments online alluding to the shooting, such as “I will be on a shooting rampage tomorrow on campus;” “hopefully I kill enough people to make it to national news” and “stay away from the Mall tomorrow at 1:30.”
Song was taken for an emergency psychiatric evaluation at a local hospital, after he was arrested at 10 am on campus. He was unarmed when police apprehended him. They charged him with disturbing the orderly conduct of the activities, administration or classes at the campus. If convicted of the misdemeanor, he could be forced to pay a $2,500 fine or be sentenced to six months in jail.
Police became aware of the threats Saturday night, Capt. Marc Limansky, a department spokesman, said. A former student found the threats on the site reddit.com, and two people who had contact with Song on omegle.com informed the university. Limansky added that it doesn’t appear that Song had access to weapons.
Song was still at the hospital last night, and university administrators have suspended him. He is no longer allowed on campus, pending a review, police have said. Limansky said Song didn’t have any previous problems with the school.
Written by: Karen Benardello
