The UCA Police Department recovered two handguns along with $249 at Bear Village on Aug. 8. 

The weapons belonged to a UCA student athlete Michael Onwuzurike. 

The report said that the weapons recovered were an AK-47 pistol and a GLOCK 19 on Onwuzurike’s bed, along with 47 rounds of 9mm Hydra-Shok ammo and 60 rounds of 7.62×39 full metal jacket rounds. 

According to the report, the guns and ammo were seized and brought back to the police department for safekeeping.

Upon arrival, UCAPD met housing worker Eliseo Barrios and Associate Vice President for Facilities Kevin Carter. 

The report said Barrios “entered the apartment for maintenance purposes and observed the weapons laying on the bed of the back bedroom.” 

In the report, Barrios said, “That is the moment he notified Kevin Carter and the police department.” 

The officers also recovered Onwuzurike’s wallet, which contained his Texas driver’s license. According to the report, Onwuzurike willingly went to UCAPD to “see what was going to happen.” 

While he was there, the police returned the money to Onwuzurike.

According to the report, he was referred to the dean of students for a policy hearing. 

“This is the only incident of weapons or firearms in a residence hall or an apartment that I could find,” said Michael Hopper, public information officer for UCAPD. “Normally, when we run across guns, it’s through the course of a traffic stop or some other interaction like that.”

It has not been reported that Onwuzurike received any punishment. Hopper said the UCAPD couldn’t charge Onwuzurike. He said if UCAPD were to charge him, it would be a long process, and the officers wanted to take possession of the firearms as soon as possible. 

“We deemed it important enough to go in and take possession of the guns right then and there,” Hopper said. “We wanted to make sure there was no possibility of anybody other than us getting their hands on those weapons.”

According to the report, Onwuzurike was on the UCA football team at the time of this incident. Coach Nathan Brown declined to comment on the incident’s effect on Onwuzurike’s athletic standing. However, Onwuzurike is still listed on the UCA football roster. 

“Similar to the university and Division of Student Affairs, it’s not appropriate for us to comment specifically on matters related to student conduct,” Brown said via email. Dean of Students Kelly Owens said, “Every case is different, so it is hard to comment on a typical punishment.”

UCA Board Policy 707 states that “the possession of, carrying, storage or use of any handgun or firearm is prohibited on the university campus, in any building owned or controlled by the university, and at any university event.” 

According to the policy, “Any student in violation of this policy will be suspended from UCA for a period of not less than three years unless a waiver of the suspension is granted by the president upon the recommendation of the vice president for student services.”