Washington College has announced that it is cancelling classes this week and will remain closed through Thanksgiving after a warrant was issued for Jacob Marberger, a missing student who is believed to be in possession of a firearm.
Washington College President Sheila C. Bair said in a statement that the school will remain closed until Nov. 29, according to NBC's Baltimore affiliate WBAL-TV.
"Following the difficult events of the past few days, Washington College will be canceling classes this week and the week of Thanksgiving break. Based on our continuing consultations with law enforcement, we anticipate that classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 30. The college campus will reopen on Sunday, Nov. 29. Students should plan on returning to campus on that day," the statement reads.
"While classes are canceled until Nov. 30, students should be alert to email communications from their professors with instructions pertaining to continued progress in their courses," it continues. "All residential students have either returned home or been taken in by members of the campus and Chestertown community. We are deeply grateful to the faculty, staff and residents of Chestertown for opening their homes and their hearts to dozens of our students.
"We will continue to update the Washington College community with information as it becomes available," the statement concludes.
Few details are known about what led to Marberger's disappearance.
College officials and friends say Marberger's life had been falling apart prior to his disappearance. He reported being bullied on Oct. 7, then got into trouble when he held - without threatening anyone - an antique, unloaded rifle while drunk at his frat house, according to CBS Baltimore.
"In speaking with Jacob, he did feel persecuted by several students on campus," said Jerry Roderick, public safety director.
From that point on, things continued to spiral downward. Marberger was kicked out of his fraternity, left his student government post as speaker of the senate and was in danger of being expelled from the college.
All of this appeared to reach a tipping point when, according to Monday's testimony from his parents, Marberger "sort of stormed in" to his parents' house in the middle of the night. While despondent about events going on in school, he quickly left and took a rifle case from the home, according to The Washington Post.
His parents have been unable to contact him since his disappearance, and the last time he was last seen was at a Walmart in Hamburg, Pa., buying ammunition.
Marberger is wanted on four charges: possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, possession of a handgun, minor in possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
He is currently being sought by the F.B.I., the ATF and other law enforcement agencies who suspect that he may still be in Pennsylvania.
