A student was arrested Wednesday after UIC police activity at UIC Student Center East in Chicago, where officials said the student first attempted to use an incendiary device and then tried to stab another student. The building at 750 S. Halsted St. was evacuated as the response unfolded.
UIC sent an alert at about 12:39 p.m. telling people to avoid the building. The school later said Student Center East was being held closed while police investigated, even as it said there was no threat to the campus community.
Kaleb Miller at UIC
Witnesses described a fast-moving scene on the second floor. Kaleb Miller said, "Somebody threw a bottle. It went straight past his face, and then he turned, saw dude pull out the butcher knife, and took off," describing what a roommate told him about the attack.
Jonathan Uribe gave a similar account of what he was told. "He slipped on some liquid from the bottle. And before he knew it, he was getting attacked. And the guy tried to stab him multiple times. So he continued to kick his feet, kicks his, and eventually he hit the guy in the jaw. The attacker started to stumble back, and then he was able to get up and run away," Uribe said.
FBI and ATF
Officials said in a Wednesday evening update that the individual attempted to use an incendiary device in a second-floor hallway of SCE before the attempted stabbing. The FBI said it was aware of the incident and was supporting the investigation along with several other law enforcement agencies, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also on the scene.
Simon Dean said he saw people on the floor as police moved in. "I heard some commotion. And when I turned it around, I saw all the people on the floor, and then the police were there. And they're like yelling at the guy to get on the floor and everything. And then it was like a lot going on; so I didn't really like know what was going on," Dean said.
Student Center East
EJ Johnson said the police presence made people back away. "What raised the red flag... was we seen three to four or five officers backing up, clutching the weapons. And then next thing you know, we hear a scream, saying, 'Get out, get out, and get out the way,'" Johnson said.
UIC said Student Center East remained closed while police continued to investigate. Students who were inside the building had to leave quickly, and the campus alert, the evacuation, and the federal response left the building shut while the investigation continued on Wednesday.
The arrest raised the next legal question: what charges will follow the arrest, and how investigators will describe the incendiary device attempt in the case to come.
