Increased police presence at Dalhousie after student threatens to kill 10-20

WATCH ABOVE: A university student has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill a professor and student at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Now we’re learning that same student talked about plotting a massacre. Global’s Natasha Pace reports.

HALIFAX – Dalhousie University says they’re confident they can keep students and staff safe, one day after court documents revealed disturbing details about and alleged mass shooting threat by former medical student Stephen Gregory Tynes.

The 30-year-old was arrested after his psychiatrist alerted police that Tynes wanted to stab Evelyn Sutton and Ellen MacDonald. Sutton is the associate dean of undergraduate medical education at Dalhousie’s medical school. MacDonald is Sutton’s daughter and also a medical student at the university.

Court documents indicate that Tynes told his psychiatrist he wanted to get a gun and shoot 10 to 20 people before killing himself. None of the allegations have been proven in court.

READ MORE:  Dalhousie student alleged to have made threats to kill up to 20 people

A copy of a search warrant filed with Halifax Provincial Court show police officers seized a number of items from Tyne’s south-end Halifax apartment. Those items include two firearms; a Russian SKS rife and a Henry Golden Boy .22 rifle, a bore cleaner, a firearm acquisition card and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition.

Tynes was arrested in Truro N.S., and is now facing two charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. In addition, he is also facing one count of engaging in threatening conduct directed at a person or any member of their family.

A provincial court judge released Tynes on $2,000 bail. A number of conditions were imposed on him as part of his release, including that he must reside with his father in Truro, not possess any firearms or ammunition and not be within 25-kilometres of Dalhousie University.

A day after the allegations became public, access to the Tupper Medical Building at Dalhousie was restricted. Security guards were visible on the campus and the only way students and staff members could enter was with a valid university id.

Dalhousie University confirmed that Stephen Gregory Tynes has been suspended and is now banned from all university campuses.

“The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is our primary focus,” Ian Nason, Vice-President, Finance and Administration with Dalhousie University said in a news release.

“Our security team, in close consultation with Halifax Regional Police, has a strong security plan in place to ensure the continued safety of our campus community,” Nason said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is our primary focus," Ian Nason, Vice-President, Finance and Administration with Dalhousie University said in a news release.</p><p>"Our security team, in close consultation with Halifax Regional Police, has a strong security plan in place to ensure the continued safety of our campus community," Nason said.

Halifax Regional Police confirmed they will be stepping up patrols in the area, and Dalhousie will also be hiring officers to patrol around the campus.

Students at the school had mixed reaction to the news of the alleged threats.

“I find it scarier that he managed to get into med school, you have to pass an interview and all these things. It’s a lot better that he got caught now then if he became a doctor,” said Rachel Vanconderen, student.

“It is concerning but we do have security guards around, so I do feel safe knowing they’re regulating everyone that’s coming into the building,” added student Adrian Herod.

The case against Tynes is scheduled to return to court on September 15.

Dalhousie University said the extra security measures, “will remain in place until such point that Dalhousie Security determines they are no longer necessary.”