SOUTH SALT LAKE — A South Jordan man is facing criminal charges after police say he threatened to carry out a mass shooting at a private college using a 3D-printed gun.
In charging documents, police say 23-year-old Austin West is accused of sending text messages to a friend about plans to commit a mass shooting that “people would be talking about” at Broadview Entertainment Arts University at 240 E. Morris Ave. The warrant states West mentioned using a 3D-printed gun so that it could not be traced back to him.
The friend who received the messages forwarded them to a professor at the school, who then passed the information along to police. A warrant was carried out at West’s parent’s home in South Jordan, where they found a 3D printer.
The school sent an email to students and staff about the threat, but chose to stay open the following day.
According to court documents, the person who West reportedly sent the messages to told police West had a fascination with guns and violence. He also told them he believed West capable of carrying out the shooting.
West is charged with making a threat of violence, a class B misdemeanor.