Arizona State moves to police violence, threats more stringently

PHOENIX -- Arizona State University will step up enforcement of its campus weapons ban and set up a committee to better investigate code of conduct violations in the wake of last weekend's fatal shooting involving a football player.

ASU president Michael Crow also appointed a law professor to conduct a thorough investigation of how the university's various units handled issues concerning running back Loren Wade, who was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder.

Wade, 21, has been jailed without bond since Saturday when he was arrested in the shooting death of former ASU football player Brandon Falkner, 25, outside a Scottsdale nightspot.

At a news conference Thursday, Crow said a committee that will include Tempe community representatives will be assembled to help ASU law professor Myles Lynk with the investigation.

The university already bans the possession of weapons on campus, but Crow said the revised weapons policy will require students and employees to inform the ASU Department of Public Safety of any violations of the weapons policy. Failure to do so will result in sanctions under existing employment and student policies.

Crow also said that any student or employee making a threat of violence, if that threat is verified, will be sent for mental health assessment and might be removed from campus and all programs.

In addition, Crow will activate a university committee to adjudicate all possible violations of the student athletic code of conduct

"With these actions, ASU will be implementing new tools to proactively address not only violent behavior but threats of violence as well," Crow said.