The Carlisle Police Department (CPD) filed criminal charges on Jan. 7 against a former Dickinson College student in connection with an altercation allegedly involving a weapon. 

CPD, Dickinson College Department of Public Safety (DPS) and several students identified the student in question as first-year Jack L. Shepley, 19, of Mechanicsburg.

Shepley is charged with simple assault and terroristic threats in the December 8, 2019 incident, according to court documents.

At 2:35 a.m. on Dec. 8, DPS officers were dispatched to Baird-McClintock Hall in response to a report of a fight between students involving a weapon, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Shepley allegedly threatened another student, stating he was “not afraid to kill him,” adding “don’t think I won’t load a bullet and pull the trigger next time,” according to the court documents. Two knives were found following a search of Shepley’s room, according to the affidavit. 

Students interviewed by DPS and CPD reported Shepley was in possession of  knives and a handgun in the week prior to the incident. According to the affidavit, two students observed Shepley display a handgun in his room in Baird a week before the incident. The affidavit details that, upon being asked what he was holding by one of the other students present, Shepley pointed the gun at the student. It is unknown whether the gun was loaded at that time. 

In an email, Chief of Public Safety Dee Danser said that CPD had filed criminal charges against the student involved and that “the college investigation was concluded and the report was forwarded to Student Conduct for further action.” Danser added that because the case had been given to Student Conduct, her statements were limited because of FERPA [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act] requirements.  

On Dec. 9.Dean of Students George Stroud sent an email to the Dickinson community addressing the situation. Stroud stated that the college had received a report of an altercation between students which “reportedly involved a weapon,” and that the college was investigating. During the investigation, Stroud stated that “one of the students involved in the incident has been removed and banned from campus.” Stroud noted that, at the time, he was unable to comment further due to FERPA requirements, noting however that both DPS and CPD “are working together to investigate this matter. 

In an interview on Jan. 28, Stroud referred to the individual cited in the incident as a “former student” and said he has “been asked to not to come to campus.” Stroud said that CPD was asked to assist with the investigation because there were allegations of a crime. “Even though this is our campus, we are still in the jurisdiction of Carlisle, so they would be leading the investigation,” said Stroud.

Stroud noted that the possible presence of a weapon was cause for concern, both for the Dickinson and wider Carlisle communities due to the “nature of this particular incident involved the allegation of a weapon.”

Stroud also addressed concerns arising from the former student being spotted on campus following the incident. Stroud said that former student “came to campus to retrieve some of his belongings, and informed us and was escorted to his room by DPS.” However, “we were informed after we escorted him away he was seen back on campus. […] That issue was addressed with us informing him and his representatives about his status here and he’s not supposed to be here, and reminded them that coming back here would more than likely lead to us taking other actions.”

A preliminary hearing in Cumberland County Magisterial District Court is scheduled for Feb. 12.