The University of North Georgia Wednesday released a detailed statement regarding the incident April 8 in which a man was arrested and charged with having two guns on campus and making threats in the library.
“At approximately 11 a.m., UNG Public Safety dispatch received a report from a third party indicating that an individual was seen near the Military Leadership Center (MLC) carrying what appeared to be a rifle case. UNG officers arrived within minutes and began searching for the person of interest in and around the Military Leadership Center. While on the scene, the officers gathered additional identifying information and confirmed that the person of interest was not in or around the MLC. At approximately 11:08 a.m., while conducting their investigation, the officers obtained information from another witness indicating that the male had placed what appeared to be a rifle case in a vehicle in the library parking lot.
“At approximately 11:13 a.m., while continuing the search and investigation around the MLC and library parking lot, UNG Library and Technology Center staff alerted UNG Public Safety dispatch that an individual inside the library had made a threatening statement to the front desk staff. UNG Police officers responded immediately. The individual was located and detained inside the library by 11:15 a.m. No injuries were reported, and the individual was taken into custody without incident.
“While searching the suspect, officers recovered a concealed handgun from the individual’s waistband. Upon further investigation, officers determined that the individual reported to have been carrying a rifle case was the same person detained by officers at the library. Officers also recovered an AR-15-style rifle stored in the suspect’s vehicle, which was parked on campus near the library.
“The suspect is identified as 26-year-old Gabriel Jose Hernandez, who was arrested and charged with the following:
- Criminal Trespass
- Terroristic Threats and Acts
- Carrying a Weapon in a School Safety Zone
- Parking in a Handicap Zone”