Officials detained a student holding a replica handgun on the second-floor balcony of McMorrow Residential Hall shortly before 10 p.m. yesterday.
USC Department of Public Security and Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived on the scene at about 9:40 p.m. after a surveillance camera operator allegedly spotted a person with a handgun.
“The replica handgun was seized and a report was taken on the incident,” DPS Assistant Chief David Carlisle said. “Obviously, although it was a prank, it was a very dangerous situation. Important things that you don’t anticipate could happen. Be mindful of how your actions could be interpreted.”
The student was not arrested and DPS has referred the incident to the student judicial system, according to Carlisle. Under California Penal Code 12556(a), carrying an imitation firearm is an infraction punishable by a fine.
DPS did not reveal the identity of the student.
McMorrow resident and sophomore stage management major Sara Gutierrez was sitting outside her apartment when she said she saw “officers run in with huge rifles.” Gutierrez said she “felt unsafe,” left the area and was not allowed back inside until police cleared the scene.
“This happened on my floor and everyone was trying to figure out what happened,” Gutierrez said. “The only place we were getting information from at this point was Sidechat. We got no DPS alerts to stay in our dorms or stay away from McMorrow. I feel like stuff that happens off campus is always alerted, but something happening in the dorm wasn’t. I was very confused, and this was an urgent situation, so I was just a little disappointed.”
Residents posted photos and commentary on Sidechat, an anonymous student messaging platform. Gutierrez said neither her residential advisor or USC Housing has given any information about the incident.
“The student was quickly detained, and it was determined that it was a replica handgun, so it was not necessary to send out an alert. The other situation was very similar. He was quickly taken, so there was no exigency,” Carlisle said.
On Tuesday at 10:06 p.m., the LAPD arrested a man outside the PED building for an outstanding warrant after students reported him to DPS for possibly carrying a knife, though no weapon was found.
Justin Adams, 33, was booked in 77th St. Jail and then transferred to the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail, according to the LAPD.
“He has a no-bail warrant, but I don’t know the initial charge,” LAPD Officer Charles Miller said.
Adams was first detained by DPS before LAPD arrived on the scene. The Men’s Central Jail did not respond to our request for comment on the charge.
“The man is likely mentally disordered,” Carlisle said. “He was waving his hands around, and they [the students] thought they saw something shiny in his hand. And they thought it was suspicious, appropriately.”
Carlisle is unsure how Adams entered campus, as USC restricts visitor access from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., requiring students to scan in with ID cards after hours.