Washington College in Maryland will remain closed at least through the Thanksgiving break while authorities try to track down an armed student who – according to his parents, police and college officials – had "problems."
The college in Chestertown has been closed since early Monday after the parents of sophomore Jacob Marberger, 19, went to police and told them their son disappeared from their home with a gun case, said the
Baltimore Sun. They told police he was despondent about things happening to him at the school,
Authorities told the Sun a misdemeanor warrant had already been issued for Marberger last month after he was accused of displaying a gun to a classmate. Police and campus officials told the newspaper that Marberger was having "problems" with other classmates in recent weeks.
Because of the warrant, Marberger was dismissed from his fraternity and was facing expulsion, said the Sun. He also resigned from his student government leadership position.
Chestertown Police Chief G. Adrian Baker told the
Washington Post that Marberger's parents said their son left with a rifle case after he "stormed in" their home in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.
Baker said Marberger was last seen at a Walmart Supercenter in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. He declined to comment on what he purchased.
Washington College president Sheila C. Bair announced the revised class schedule on Wednesday.
"Following the difficult events of the past few days, Washington College will be canceling classes this week and the week of Thanksgiving Break," said Bair.
Washington College is a liberal arts school with about 1,450 undergraduate students, said the Sun. School officials said 50 students who couldn't leave the school have been moved off campus.
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