An Oxford College student was arrested Sunday, Oct. 11 after threatening to carry out a mass shooting on the Oxford campus, according to an Oct. 11 Emory University statement.
Oxford College sophomore Emily Sakamoto, 21, was arrested by the Emory Police Department Sunday afternoon at her on-campus residence after confessing to the charge of terroristic acts and threats and is currently in custody at Newton County Jail, according to police reports obtained by the Wheel.
The threat, posted on the anonymous social media messaging app Yik Yak, read, “I’m shooting up the school. Tomorrow. Stay in your rooms. The ones on the quad are the ones who will go first,” according to the police reports.
Sakamoto’s posted bond stands at $1,500.
The statement from Emory University reads, “Emory University Police arrested an Oxford College student on Sunday, Oct. 11, and charged her with making terrorist threats against the university as a result of a social media message that she posted early Sunday morning. Emory University is committed to providing a safe environment for all community members and will take swift and appropriate action to maintain the security of the campus community.”
Campus police were alerted when a student read the threat on Yik Yak, according to an all-Oxford email Sunday from Stephen Bowen, who is the Dean and CEO of Oxford College as well as the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Biology.
“Late last night a message on social media said the writer intended indiscriminate acts of violence toward persons on the Oxford College campus,” Bowen wrote. “The message was on the web site only a few minutes but several Oxford students saw it and one of them called 911. Emory police responded immediately.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Executive Digital Editor Stephen Fowler and Managing Editor Zak Hudak contributed reporting.
emily.sullivan@emory.edu | Emily Sullivan (18C) is from Blue Bell, Pa., majoring in international studies and minoring in ethics. She served most recently as news editor. Last summer, she interned with Atlanta Magazine. Emily dances whenever she can and is interested in the relationship between journalism and human rights issues.
