The UNM Police Department arrested student Kevin Boyar on Tuesday on charges of unlawfully carrying a gun onto a University establishment.
Police said four guns were recovered from Boyar's parents' house, including an AK-47 assault-style rifle, and there is evidence he brought the weapons to his room in the Student Residence Center.
Police Chief Kathy Guimond said the department received an anonymous tip at 11 a.m. that Boyar, 19, had guns in his room at the SRC. The informant said Boyar had made threats referring to the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois, she said.
Police obtained a search warrant and entered Boyar's room, but no guns were found, Guimond said.
However, there was evidence weapons had been in the room, she said.
Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for the department, said that evidence could not be disclosed.
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"I have to be careful about what I talk about - that's criminal evidence that hasn't been presented to the district attorney yet," he said. "We found from interviewing people who had seen the weapons. And from evidence that was there, we were able to determine that the weapons had been there recently."
Police then searched Boyar's parents' home in Albuquerque and found guns and ammunition, Guimond said.
She said four guns were recovered from the house - an AK-47 assault-style rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22-caliber rifle and a Russian bolt-action rifle with a bayonet.
Guimond said officers set up surveillance around campus and at the house after receiving the tip.
Student Aaron Bradley said police interrupted his Greek mythology class at 3 p.m. looking for Boyar.
"We were watching a movie, and they asked if (Boyar) was in class," he said. "He wasn't there, or at least no one responded. Afterward, there were police officers at every exit checking for him."
Guimond said officers arrested Boyar on campus without incident at 4 p.m.
He faces four counts of carrying a firearm onto a University establishment, she said.
"State law prohibits carrying a firearm on campus," she said. "It's a safety issue for everybody who comes onto our campus."
Besides trouble with the law, Boyar faces possible disciplinary action from the University.
According to UNM's Code of Conduct, Boyar faces possible suspension or expulsion for "use, possession or storage of any weapon on University premises."
Dean of Students Randy Boeglin was out of his office and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Walt Miller, dean of Student Life, said University personnel acted with precision.
"Campus police and the Dean of Students Office quickly administered our values on keeping a safe campus," he said.
Miller said that despite the incident, UNM is a safe campus.
"I think we are a very safe place," he said. "I don't know all the facts, but our reaction was quick, and it shows what kind of community we are."
