Police: Intoxicated Student Threatens Shooting At Central Michigan University

MOUNT PLEASANT (WWJ) - A Central Michigan University student is under investigation after he allegedly threatened to shoot an instructor.

The incident happened around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in Pearce Hall, according to campus Police Chief Bill Yeagley.

"The student had been drinking prior to class and apparently disagreed with some of the comments the instructor was making and just simply made a comment about -- even though he wasn't armed at the time -- about shooting the instructor because he disagreed, and then he got up and left the class," Yeagley told WWJ's Beth Fisher.

Police were notified of the situation and located the student around 4 p.m.

"We detained him," Yeagley said. "Once he located him, we brought him to the police department and interviewed him. We took statements from him and were able to examine a number of things to see if he had access to weapons."

No one reported seeing a weapon on the student at the time, police said, and a search of his home revealed no weapons.

"He's not a traditional student. He's an older student in his 30s," Yeagley said, adding that the man lives off campus.

The student, who has no history of threats or violence, was released without charges but is prohibited from attending classes or being on campus until the Office of Student Conduct determines appropriate next steps.

"Students around him reported it, which is a great thing. We always ask folks if they see or hear something to say something, and that's what happened in this case. The students notified the instructor, as well as the police," said Yeagley. "With all of the violence across our world and concern about the safety of people, we have to be careful of what we say."

Campus police have forwarded the case to the Isabella County Prosecutor's Office for review of possible criminal charges.