NEWS

MSU freshman charged with making school shooting threat

Kevin Grasha
kgrasha@lsj.com

EAST LANSING – A Michigan State University freshman accused of threatening a school shooting Monday faces a terrorism charge punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Matthew Mullen, 19, of Northbrook, Ill., was arraigned Tuesday in 54B District Court on a charge of making a terrorist threat or false report of terrorism.

Mullen has posted a $10,000 bond, court records show. He is still attending the university, according to his attorney, Eric Sheppard.

MSU police arrested Mullen at Akers Hall at 12:25 p.m. Monday, following tips from multiple callers that he had made the threat on the social media app Yik Yak.

Police have not released details about the what the Yik Yak posting said, but said it was unclear if the threat was directed at MSU, local public schools or both.

The threat led several area schools to be placed on lockdown.

Sheppard declined to comment on the charges. He said his office is conducting its own investigation.

A preliminary hearing, which determines if there is enough evidence for a trial, is set for Dec. 5.

On Tuesday, a second threat was reported — that a bomb was on campus. The report was determined to be a hoax within about half an hour. During that time, MSU police urged people to "secure inside a building."

Police are working to identify the person or persons responsible.