5 Years' Probation for Former UNH Student Who Brought Guns to Campus
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William Dong to serve another year in prison then five years probation
The former University of New Haven student who brought loaded guns to campus in December 2013 last winter, sparking a massive police presence and lockdown, has been sentenced to five years of probation on federal charges.
William Dong, 23, of Fairfield, traveled to Pennsylvania in September 2013 and bought a Bushmaster model XM-15-E2S, .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle and brought it back to Connecticut, where the firearm is a prohibited assault weapon, according to federal authorities.
On Dec. 3, 2013, he was arrested near campus and found to have two handguns on him, officials said, and the Bushmaster rifle in his car.
Dong has been detained since he was arrested and told officials he had the guns out of concern for his safety and the safety of his fellow students.
@BostonMade_
Police searching campus, as seen from Soundview Hall.
Miles Mortali
Law enforcement outside the Beckerman Recreation Center at the UNH campus.
Jess P.
Members of the FBI search buildings at the UNH campus.
NBCConnecticut.com
Police presence near the University of New Haven campus.
Maggie Blum
Univ. New Haven student Maggie Blum captured this photo from her dorm in Bethel Hall next to Campbell Avenue.
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Law enforcement on Campbell Avenue near the University of New Haven campus.
Jess P.
FBI members search buildings at UNH.
The University of New Haven posted this emergency alert on its website.
Kyle Allingham
FBI and SWAT team members search the UNH Tagliatela College of Engineering.
NBCConnecticut.com
Police are outside the home of the person in custody on Stratfield Road in Fairfield.
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Police presence on Stratfield Road in Fairfield, where authorities say the person in custody lives.
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Police cordon off the home of the person in custody following the UNH lockdown.
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven posted this message on its Facebook page to alert students of the report of a person with a rifle near campus.
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven posted this update on its Facebook page.
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven posted this update on its Facebook page.
Oriana
Police search the UNH campus.
Maggie Blum
Univ. New Haven student Maggie Blum captured this photo from her dorm in Bethel Hall next to Campbell Avenue.
NBCConnecticut.com
Fairfield Police Chief Gary McNamara arrives at the home of the student taken into custody following today's UNH lockdown.
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Police respond to the home of the UNH student in custody on Startfield Road in Fairfield.
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Police at the Fairfield home of the student taken into custody.
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The FBI arrives at the home of the UNH student detained.
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FBI and police enter the home of the UNH student arrested in connection with today's lockdown.
Alysha Kalinowski
Law enforcement, possibly SWAT, enters the student Recreation Center at UNH.
NBCConnecticut.com
The Fairifeld home of the UNH suspect currently in custody.
Miles Mortali
Law enforcement outside the Beckerman Recreation Center
Miles Mortali
Law enforcement outside the Beckerman Recreation Center.
Miles Mortali
Students hunker down in the UNH recreation center.
NBCConnecticut.com
Police maintain a presence near the University of New Haven campus in West Haven.
Jess Leeb
Law enforcement as seen from the fourth floor of Bergami Hall.
Jess Leeb
Law enforcement as seen from the fourth floor of Bergami Hall.
NBCConnecticut.com
West Haven police arrive at Dong's Fairfield home with a search warrant.
On Nov. 6, he pleaded guilty to the federal charge. Before that, he pleaded guilty in Milford Superior Court to state firearms offenses related to the December 2013 incident in West Haven, and has been sentenced to eight years of incarceration, execution suspended after two years, and five years of probation.
As special conditions of probation, the judge ordered that Dong cannot possess any firearms or ammunition, associate with individuals in possession of firearms or go to any shooting ranges. He also must submit to mental health counseling.
“A sentence of five years of probation with mental health counseling is an appropriate resolution to this case, as it will provide Mr. Dong with needed federal supervision,” U.S. Attorney Deidre Daly said in a statement. “We want to thank the conscientious citizen who first alerted law enforcement that an individual was in possession of a powerful and potentially dangerous firearm. We also want to acknowledge the rapid response of the West Haven Police and University of New Haven Police, which quickly resolved this unsettling situation.”
Dong's friends called the incident a "huge misunderstanding" and said Dong was just confused about where he was allowed to carry guns.
