Former Ohio University Assistant Vice President for Business Services Mark K. Hopton was arrested on Wednesday night for allegedly making a terrorist threat against the school.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that Hopton, who was laid off last spring, supposedly told a university employee that he felt "angry enough to shoot people in the HDL Center and HR Center." Both buildings went on lockdown when Hopton's words were made public. And after obtaining search warrants, officials found that Hopton's threats did not appear to be idle -- they found 12 loaded firearms in his house.
Hopton, 48, has been charged with a third-degree felony and has reportedly been released after posting a $10,000 bail. According to the Athens News, Hopton was instructed by the court to undergo psychiatric evaluation and to cease all contact with the university.
As of Thursday, the buildings -- which house the school's departments of human resources, information technology and more -- were still being guarded by police officers. The Post writes that these departments have suffered "minimal disruption," although university faculty, staff and student all received an email with instructions on how to behave in an emergency situation.
Hopton will be in Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 5th.
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