Arkansas State urges student union evacuation

He said charges were likely but did not know what they would be.

The armed man who was the subject of a campus alert at Arkansas State University Thursday afternoon had a pump-gauge shotgun, a can of gasoline, and a 100-pound propane tank.

Cell phone video captured students fleeing in a panic as an alarm sounded.

Bartelt reportedly threatened to harm himself and did not threaten to harm students or police officers.

Elliott said at a Thursday news conference that Bartelt never pointed a weapon toward officers.

Student Government President Logan Mustain said his organization asked campus police to advise students how to handle active-shooter incidents following similar situations that have occurred in the past year elsewhere.

According to the JPD news release, police had been sent to check on Bartelt Wednesday night after receiving a report that he had posted comments on social media “indicating he was experiencing homicidal and suicidal feelings”.

“When we arrived, he was threatening himself”, Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott told reporters.

The university lifted a lockdown for most of the campus, but still canceled final exams set for Thursday afternoon and evening.

School and police officials said Bartelt had attended an ASU branch campus at Newport. Authorities could not speculate why he came to the main ASU location in Jonesboro.

University spokesman Bill Smith says the man was taken into custody about an hour after the incident began.

I am thankful for the rapid response of the University Police officers on duty to contain the suspect to his vehicle and keep him from entering any of the campus buildings. “I’m also very thankful for the outside agencies’ quick response and to further contain the situation to prevent any injuries or loss of life”, Martin said.

Campus was closed Thursday following the incident.