Wednesday, Feb. 28, Chief of the College of William and Mary Police Department Don Butler sent out a campus-wide email stating the College of William and Mary Police Department recovered an unattended pistol in a bathroom of the Daily Grind after a student reported the weapon to the department.
“We are grateful to the student who reported this, and an investigation is underway. Anyone with information is asked to contact William & Mary Police at 757.221.4596,” Butler wrote.
According to Butler, the weapon was not used and no one was injured.
“It is against university policy for any member of our campus community (staff, faculty or students) — other than law enforcement — to be in possession of a weapon on university property, in any buildings, or any outdoor area to which access is restricted to members of the university community and invited guests, or while attending any university events or university sanctioned events,” Butler added.
Director of News and Media Suzanne Clavet provided the College’s reaction to the incident in an email to The Flat Hat.
“The safety of our community is a priority. As Chief Butler said in his message, we are thankful that the weapon wasn’t used and grateful for the quick action of the student in reporting this to authorities,” Clavet wrote.
Butler cited a section of the Code of Virginia prohibiting the possession of guns on university campuses.
“Possession or carrying of any weapon by any person, except a police officer, is prohibited on university property in any buildings or any outdoor area to which access is restricted to members of the university community and invited guests, or while attending any university events or university sanctioned events,” the Code of Virginia states.
At the time of publication, no new information was released from the department.
“We’re still waiting for some pertinent information. We can only do the updated release once we have it. I was hoping to have it by now, but we don’t. I’ll be monitoring and will release the information as soon as I can,” Butler wrote Friday, Mar. 1 to The Flat Hat.
