Good catch LEO.

Dear Students and Colleagues,

We want to inform you of an arrest that was made late last night based on a report received by the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD) involving threats to the University. Please be aware this message contains information that some could find upsetting.

On Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, UAPD, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), identified and arrested non-University affiliate Michael Pengchong Lee, 27 years old, of Tucson for threatening to commit a mass shooting at the University of Arizona. The threats were made via group chat and contained additional threatening content directed toward Greek life. The Office of Public Safety is working with Greek life to offer any needed support.

Lee was booked into the Pima County Jail on a state charge of making a terroristic threat; federal charges may follow.

There is no current or pending threat to the University community from this individual, and no other individuals are being sought.

UAPD was first alerted to the group chat post late in the evening on Sunday, Oct. 22. UAPD and the FBI worked quickly to identify the suspect. Once identified, the law enforcement agencies monitored the individual until his arrest about 24 hours after the initial report.

We want the community to know this case is an example of a successful collaborative effort among UAPD, the Threat Assessment and Management Team (TAMT), and the FBI’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force.

Supporting the mental health of our community members is important, and we want you to be aware of the resources available to you through Campus Health’s Counseling & Psych Services and Life & Work Connections. The University encourages students, faculty and staff to use these resources (listed below) if needed.

As always, we encourage members of the University community to report concerning or threatening behavior to TAMT. In an emergency, call 911 immediately or contact UAPD at 520-621-8273.

Thank you,

Steve Patterson

Interim, Vice President and Chief Safety Officer

Office of Public Safety

The University of Arizona