Police have arrested an individual they believe is responsible for posting tweets on Tuesday threatening a shooting on Oregon State University’s Corvallis campus, according to university officials.
The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Christopher Adam Strahan of Corvallis. Straham initially was located and contacted outside a residence in Corvallis and was arrested at about 2:30 p.m. for making threats of violence toward OSU and the community, according to a press release from the Oregon State Police.
Strahan was booked into the Benton County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Police did not disclose the address of the residence where Strahan was apprehended.
Troopers and detectives identified Strahan as the owner of the Twitter username "Hard Belly Dorm," according to the press release.
“At this time, there is no known threat to public safety,” the press release stated. “This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released when available.”
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University spokesperson Steve Clark said Strahan was enrolled as a student at OSU from fall term 2014 through winter term 2017. Strahan’s major was food science technology with a minor in chemistry, Clark said. Strahan was a junior when he left OSU.
Clark said he could not comment on Strahan’s educational records while enrolled at OSU or why Strahan was no longer enrolled at the school.
OSU’s Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Corvallis Police Department and the Benton County Health Department helped in apprehending Strahan.
School officials were alerted about 12:20 p.m. of the threatening tweets, OSP stated.
Screenshots shared by students on Facebook and Twitter showed tweets threatening a shooting on OSU's campus.
The campus was not evacuated while law enforcement investigated, nor were any buildings placed on lockdown, Clark said.
The press release stated Oregon State Police received an initial anonymous tip about the tweets via SafeOregon, the statewide school safety tip line. The tip line is intended for elementary schools and high schools, but officials were able to provide information to Oregon State Police staff assigned to the OSU campus.
SafeOregon can be accessed through a phone call, text message, mobile application or the internet by students and other members of the public. Trained staff are available around the clock to review tips. For more information, visit the website www.safeoregon.com.
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Lillian Schrock covers public safety for the Gazette-Times. She may be reached at 541-758-9548 or lillian.schrock@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter at @LillieSchrock.
