A 20-year-old former Cornell University student has been arrested after allegedly accumulating a cache of ammunition and a large semi-automatic weapon in his apartment near campus, according to Ithaca, New York police and the FBI.
Maximilien R. Reynolds reportedly possessed a homemade bomb, an unassembled AR-15-style rifle, combat equipment, 300 rounds of ammunition and a host of additional weapons that were seized by FBI agents and local authorities last week, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. Other items included a plastic bin with fireworks, medical supplies for serious injuries and chemicals used to create explosives, to name a few.
The weaponry was confiscated from the center of Collegetown, an area that serves Cornell students with restaurants and other amenities. On Friday, Cornell Police Chief Kathy Zoner said there is no threat to the campus or adjacent areas, but local authorities, the FBI and other agencies are still investigating the motive behind the student's intention to amass hoard firepower and protective supplies in Reynolds's studio apartment.
"Collectively all of these items certainly suggest a specific recipe for large scale destruction," Ithaca Police Chief Pete Tyler said in a statement. "I'm very proud of the team of investigators who worked diligently and methodically to prevent any potential tragedy from occurring."
Joel M. Malina, Cornell's vice president for university relations, said in a statement that the arrest was "made following a tip from a good Samaritan in the local community." He added, "This is a good reminder that we can all keep our community safe by immediately reporting suspicious activity."
The U.S. Northern District Court of New York has charged Reynolds with federal crimes and was taken into custody on Thursday, The Ithaca Voice reported. Local reports indicated that he provided false statements to purchase a firearm from a Tompkins County vendor by paying a friend. If he's convicted, Reynolds could serve up to 40 years behind bars, the Daily Sun added.
The incident comes after the nation is still grieving the loss of 17 people who died after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14. The carnage sparked a widespread movement against gun violence, led by the teenage survivors who are also organizing a "March for our Lives" on March 24, which hopes to gather at least 500,000 people.
According to The Washington Post, the post-Parkland movement intends to fight the influence of the National Rifle Association on gun control legislation.
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