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Virginia Tech student arrested Monday and charged with illegally possessing a gun
The story is 13 hours old. The arrest was on Monday. Thus, not in LBN.
I think Tech literally dodged a bullet. Or 5,000 of them.
Virginia Tech student arrested Monday and charged with illegally possessing a gun
By Mike Gangloff [email protected] 381-1669 13 hrs ago
Virginia Tech officials emphasized Tuesday they saw no danger from the student whose arrest touched off an online storm that echoed both the 2007 mass shooting on the university’s campus and more recent national debates about immigration.
During weeks of investigation of freshman Yunsong Zhao, “at no time … did police believe there was any threat to our community, nor is there one now,” said a university statement posted online Tuesday night.
Zhao’s arrest Monday prompted a flurry of news reports and online comments. Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski on Tuesday confirmed some of the basic elements of the arrest – that Zhao is accused of possessing a rifle, a weapon that as a foreign national he is not allowed to have under Virginia law; and that he allegedly tried to order 5,000 rounds of ammunition. ... Owczarski also confirmed that Zhao had bought a former police vehicle — an unusual-sounding detail that figured in reports of the arrest but had no immediate bearing on the charge against the former student.
The Collegiate Times, Tech’s student newspaper, cited university records and a WSLS television news report to describe Zhao as a 19-year-old from China who was majoring in business.
By Mike Gangloff [email protected] 381-1669 13 hrs ago
Virginia Tech officials emphasized Tuesday they saw no danger from the student whose arrest touched off an online storm that echoed both the 2007 mass shooting on the university’s campus and more recent national debates about immigration.
During weeks of investigation of freshman Yunsong Zhao, “at no time … did police believe there was any threat to our community, nor is there one now,” said a university statement posted online Tuesday night.
Zhao’s arrest Monday prompted a flurry of news reports and online comments. Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski on Tuesday confirmed some of the basic elements of the arrest – that Zhao is accused of possessing a rifle, a weapon that as a foreign national he is not allowed to have under Virginia law; and that he allegedly tried to order 5,000 rounds of ammunition. ... Owczarski also confirmed that Zhao had bought a former police vehicle — an unusual-sounding detail that figured in reports of the arrest but had no immediate bearing on the charge against the former student.
The Collegiate Times, Tech’s student newspaper, cited university records and a WSLS television news report to describe Zhao as a 19-year-old from China who was majoring in business.
Freshman arrested for illegal possession of assault rifle
Matt Jones, editor in chief 17 hrs ago
Virginia Tech Police on Monday arrested a freshman for illegal possession of an assault rifle. ... Yunsong Zhao, 19, was charged with possessing or transporting an assault firearm while not being a U.S. citizen or while not being lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the U.S. According to public Virginia Tech records, Zhao was an undecided business major who lived on the fourth floor of Cochrane Hall.
According to the arrest warrant obtained by WSLS, Zhao had attempted to buy 5,000 rounds of ammunition as well. He also purchased a former police vehicle and modified it with a new bumper. Zhao has no known criminal history and has family in China.
WDBJ7 reports that warrants show police searched his room in Cochrane as well as the vehicle, a 2011 Crown Victoria sedan. On Jan. 15, Zhao had checked in an AR-15 assault rifle into the student gun locker at the Public Safety Building, where students on campus are required to store weapons.
Police also received reports that Zhao had purchased another rifle with a 30-round magazine on Jan. 22, and on Jan. 26, Zhao checked out a Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle. ... Detectives saw Zhao shooting a .223 caliber weapon with a 30-round magazine at the Jefferson National Forest firing range on Craig Creek Road.
Matt Jones, editor in chief 17 hrs ago
Virginia Tech Police on Monday arrested a freshman for illegal possession of an assault rifle. ... Yunsong Zhao, 19, was charged with possessing or transporting an assault firearm while not being a U.S. citizen or while not being lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the U.S. According to public Virginia Tech records, Zhao was an undecided business major who lived on the fourth floor of Cochrane Hall.
According to the arrest warrant obtained by WSLS, Zhao had attempted to buy 5,000 rounds of ammunition as well. He also purchased a former police vehicle and modified it with a new bumper. Zhao has no known criminal history and has family in China.
WDBJ7 reports that warrants show police searched his room in Cochrane as well as the vehicle, a 2011 Crown Victoria sedan. On Jan. 15, Zhao had checked in an AR-15 assault rifle into the student gun locker at the Public Safety Building, where students on campus are required to store weapons.
Police also received reports that Zhao had purchased another rifle with a 30-round magazine on Jan. 22, and on Jan. 26, Zhao checked out a Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle. ... Detectives saw Zhao shooting a .223 caliber weapon with a 30-round magazine at the Jefferson National Forest firing range on Craig Creek Road.
https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaTechPolice/posts/10155209066193344
