TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Threats of a mass shooting at the University of Arizona campus—investigators say that’s why they arrested a 27-year-old man Monday. Michael Pengchung Lee is facing state and federal charges.
The U.S. District Attorney's Office confirmed Lee's arrest by the FBI. They say the U.S. has 30 days from Wednesday's arrest to formally indict Lee.
The University of Arizona put in stronger security measures after a professor was shot and killed on campus a little over a year ago. Now there are signs that system is working with the arrest of someone charged with making a terroristic threat and threatening a mass shooting.
Investigators say the threat was against fraternities and sororities—-and that it came from Lee, who identified himself as an incel or involuntary celibate. Incels feel they cannot form romantic or sexual relationships and often resent people who do.
Charging documents say Lee went on the social media app Snapchat and said, “There’s going to be a mass tragedy and atrocity at the UofA Soon.”
You are seeing the quotes exactly as typed in the documents.
Investigators say he more specifically threatened fraternities and sororities with statements like: “The day of Retribution is upon us, I shall get revenge on all the 'Chads' and 'Stacies!!'”
And the Federal complaint suggests Lee has been watching the houses along UArizona’s Greek Row. It says University Police license plate scanners noted his car along Greek Row nine times this month—always between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.
The Federal document said last month he was charged for possession of controlled substances and having a gun stashed in a storage unit.
After a gunman shot and killed Professor Thomas Meixner last year, the University promised better methods to track and assess threats.
Students we asked say the arrest makes them feel reassured that system is working.
Katie is a sorority member who says, “Yeah, it is, for sure. Because they got arrested, like right away and that it's good to know that people are reporting it and not just letting it slip by.”
Marcos Guzman is Associate Dean of Students for Fraternity and Sorority Programs.
He says the UArizona threat assessment team is following up with fraternity and sorority leaders.
“It'll be really around, you know, safety measures, talking about the success of say something or if you see something, say something, and that's what happened in this case, someone saw it and reported it and so emphasizing that to the community so that way, they can continue to be more aware of their surroundings and keep each other safe.”
——-
Craig Smith is a reporter for KGUN 9. With more than 40 years of reporting in cities like Tampa, Houston and Austin, Craig has covered more than 40 Space Shuttle launches and covered historic hurricanes like Katrina, Ivan, Andrew and Hugo. Share your story ideas and important issues with Craig by emailing craig.smith@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook and Twitter.
