UW-La Crosse Officials: Campus Safe After Arrest

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) officials say the campus is safe following the swift arrest of an armed student on campus.

University officials say the student was already on their radars, after he made what they called erratic statements about UWL administration to campus police and other officials.

Police received several calls this morning, reporting that he was carrying a camouflage sling bag and was described as being dressed oddly. He briefly entered a classroom in the science building, then left, where police stopped him in a parking lot. They discovered that the bag contained an unloaded hunting shotgun and he did not have any ammunition on him.

UWL police chief Scott Rohde says the incident was resolved quickly and without resistance. The suspect is now in city police custody undergoing a psychological evaluation. Charges have not yet been filed and the student’s intentions are still unknown. Police are not releasing his name at this time.

Guns are allowed on state university campuses, but not inside buildings. Rohde says even if a nonthreatening individual had a gun on campus, police would still make casual contact with them.

UWL Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Paula Knudson says there is a forum for students and staff scheduled for this afternoon who may be going through shock.

“They have experienced something traumatic, no matter how close or far away they were from the actual incident. This affects our campus, and now we need to go about our business taking care of the emotional side of the house now that the physical side has been secured.”

Knudson says UWL’s security policies are up to date, but they will offer more training to departments on how to manage troubled students.

Note: This is an updated version of a story that aired at noon today.