Police have arrested university freshman Yunsong Zhao after uncovering illegal rifles and ammunition in his possession, something he can't legally have while on a student Visa, according to documents obtained by WDBJ7.
Virginia Tech Police were alerted to the 19-year-old after he purchased an AR-15 as well as ammo in late January. They would then search his dorm in Cochrane Hall before going through his Ford Sedan on the hunt for rifle magazines able to hold more than 20 rounds and other accessories to switch a rifle to an assault rifle. These searches followed an investigation that had already been going on for several weeks, says the school.
Technically, these items are not illegal by themselves but those with Student Visas cannot own any type of assault or semi-automatic weapons. Zhao was, however, able to sign out a Bushmaster XM-15 from a student gun locker to take to the Jefferson National Forest shooting range. Police asked county detectives to follow him there, where a detective says they witnessed him fire a weapon with a 30 round magazine.
Detectives allegedly also found out that the student attempted to buy 5,000 rounds of ammunition, was searching for bulletproof vests, and even bought an old police car. Following his arrest, Zhao was taken to Montgomery County Jail, where he is currently being held, with a hearing scheduled for March 1. Fellow students were shocked at the news, including fellow freshman Alvaro Barros who said, "He seemed like a normal guy, you know what I mean? Just someone trying to make friends and trying to blend in like everyone else.”
On April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech senior Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people on campus and wounded 17.
