Mcconnell Campbell, a janitor, was arrested at 2:20 a.m. CDT on Aug. 27 for carrying a weapon on school property with intent. A backpack containing a loaded gun and ammunition that belonged to Campbell was found in the Rec and reported to Vanderbilt University Police Department.
According to WSMV, Campbell said he left the backpack behind while he was cleaning and told officers he was carrying the weapon because he is homeless, despite knowing the university does not allow weapons on campus. Campbell was also charged with unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities and drug possession or casual exchange. He is scheduled to appear in court facing all three charges on Sept. 13.
“We can and do restrict weapons on campus to protect the safety and well-being of the Vanderbilt community,” a university representative said in a message to The Hustler. “As we did in this situation, we take action when our policies or the law is violated and/or when the safety of the campus is jeopardized.”
The representative said that the university always works to improve its processes and is including this incident in its third-party review of external contractor procurement policies. The university initiated this review following an incident earlier this month in which external contractors performing maintenance on a residence hall had an altercation that resulted in a shooting.
Per Tennessee state law, individuals are allowed to store a firearm and ammunition in their vehicles even on private property, given that the car is allowed to be parked where it is and the weapon or ammunition in the car is out of sight of observers when the individual is in the car or out of sight and locked up when the individual is not in the car. This law holds for people with handgun permits and those who “open carry,” which is permitted in Tennessee.
Senior Mahaan Uttam described the incident at the Rec as “alarming.”
“With the volume of students who find refuge and peace there after class, something really wrong could have happened,” Uttam said.
