EWU student arrested for shooting threats

An Eastern Washington University student was arrested Monday after allegedly yelling in class that he wanted to “shoot up the classroom.”

A witness told police that Nicholas S. Nelson, 25, told the class that he was mentally ill. “You know those kids that shoot up classrooms? That’s me,” he allegedly said, according to court documents.

When police contacted Nelson he reportedly said that he was having a bad day and was trying to stay off their radar, court documents said. He also reportedly admitted making threatening statements and told police police that many of his professors think he’s a “ticking time bomb” because of his behavior in class, according to court documents.

Nelson was ordered held on $5,000 bond and banned from the EWU campus during a court appearance Tuesday. He is facing a charge of malicious harassment.

His attorney said in court that Nelson is mentally ill and off his medication.