A Virginia Tech Student Tried to Order 5,000 Rounds of Ammunition for His AR-15, Police Say

TIME Staff
Updated
A Virginia Tech freshman has been arrested and charged with illegally possessing an assault weapon as a foreigner.

(BLACKSBURG, Va.) — A Virginia Tech freshman has been charged with illegally possessing an assault weapon as a foreigner.

Virginia Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski told local media that Yunsong Zhao of China was arrested Monday. He faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted of possessing an AR-15 assault weapon, which foreigners cannot have under Virginia law, and of trying to order 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

People on campus criticized the university for not alerting them about the arrest, which revived memories of the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech said the school had received “many calls” from people concerned about the arrest.

“At no time during this investigation did police believe there was any threat to our community, nor is there one now,” the school said in a statement.