On Feb. 23, Assistant Chief Yearta was contacted by the witness in regards to an incident that occurred during a public Zoom meeting. After talking to the witness, Yearta was advised that on Feb. 23, at approximately 6:30 pm, Winthrop University’s International Center hosted a virtual Zoom event with the Rock Hill School District #3 Virtual Academy. The witness then stated that the purpose of the event was to share international cultures with students in the 6th – 8th grades from the Virtual Academy.
The witness further stated that the Zoom link was Winthrop University’s and did not allow multiple participants to screen share. During the presentation, inappropriate sounds were played by one of the attendees. The witness then advised that they muted everyone in the meeting and were able to complete the content portion of the program. The witness advised that they had received a number of compliments from the students and the Rock Hill School District #3 Virtual Academy in the Zoom chat regarding how pleased they were with the event up to that point.
However, the witness then stated that even though they had the Zoom controls set to prevent multiple screen sharing at one time, the event was Zoom bombed with pornographic images towards the end of the program. This occurred while they were having the students play a trivia game. The witness described the images as being very explicit and graphic. After this occurred, the event was closed, and the event stopped with screen sharing at approximately 7:23 pm.
The witness then informed Yearta that the Zoom meeting was recorded and that the Zoom meeting was organized under a meeting ID and an associated passcode. According to the witness, the link for the Zoom meeting was distributed only after the participants pre-registered for the event. This incident report will remain active and be forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division for further review.
On Feb. 24, the Reporting Officer (R/O) was dispatched to Owens Hall in reference to an individual that walked into the building with a firearm. The description given was for a white male in a blue shirt and blue jeans with blonde/strawberry blonde hair. The R/O arrived at Owens and searched the area for an individual matching that description.
The R/O made contact with one individual, but no weapon was found. The R/O searched each floor of Owens Hall and each floor of Bancroft Hall. The R/O was unable to locate any individual matching that description. The R/O then advised dispatch to have the witness give him a call. After the witness called the R/O, he made contact with the witness, a Winthrop student.
The witness stated that she observed the individual sitting in the DiGiorgio Campus Center when she observed what appeared to be a holster on the suspect’s hip. The witness stated she could see him adjust his shirt to cover the firearm. The witness then stated that he left and walked into Owens Hall. A witness stated that she had a video of the alleged firearm. The witness showed the R/O the video and sent it to the R/O via text. The R/O could confirm from the video that it was, in fact, a firearm on the suspect’s hip.
The R/O then took several statements from several other witnesses listed in this report. As the R/O was finishing interviewing the witnesses, he received another call from dispatch stating there was a student in room 102 of Owens Hall that was not wearing a mask and had a firearm on his hip.
The R/O then went to room 102 and observed the suspect with a partially concealed firearm. The R/O then entered the room and immediately asked the suspect to place his hands behind his back. The suspect began to question why the R/O was attempting to handcuff him. The R/O continued to ask the individual to put his hands behind his back.
The R/O then placed the suspect in handcuffs and escorted him out of the room. The R/O searched the suspect’s right waistband and recovered a Rock Island 1911 .45 caliber handgun. The R/O then escorted the suspect to his vehicle to finish searching him. The suspect stated he had a concealed weapons permit. The R/O informed the suspect that even though he had a concealed weapons permit, he was not allowed to carry a firearm on campus. The R/O also recovered a spring-assisted knife with a blade five inches long in the suspect’s pocket.
The R/O then advised the suspect he was under arrest and would be transported to the Rock Hill City Jail. The suspect was advised of his Miranda Rights once he was placed inside of his vehicle. The R/O then transported the suspect to the Rock Hill City Jail, where he was booked on charges of carrying a weapon on school grounds and carrying a firearm in a school/ public building. The firearm and the knife were booked into evidence at the Winthrop University Police Department.
