The first case was reported to have occurred at 2:10 a.m. on Sept. 17. Allegedly, the student pointed a replica toy firearm at a Residential Security Officer who was investigating an unrelated incident in a residence hall. The second case, which occurred at 1:07 a.m. on Sept. 20, involved three students walking around campus carrying replica toy guns. The students were later caught and the replica weapons were surrendered.

Members of the UCSD PD have been trained to respond defensively and with deadly force if campus safety is threatened by a student’s possession of a firearm — regardless of its authenticity — according to a press release by Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Penny Rue on Sept. 27.

“This extremely dangerous behavior threatens the health and safety of the UCSD community and is of the highest level of concern for the overall safety and well-being of our campus community,” Rue said in a Sept. 27 campus-wide notice regarding the incidents. “In a post-Virginia Tech climate, the University has taken significant steps to ensure the safety of all its members.”

These cases of replica or toy gun use violate the UCSD Student Conduct Code, which enforces that student possession of any kind of firearm, regardless of authenticity, is subject to suspension or dismissal from the University. Students engaged in such misconduct either on- or off-campus may also face legal consequences; Section 417.4 of the California Penal Code calls for criminal persecution in such situations.

Communication director Rex Graham and UCSD spokesperson Christine Clark could not comment due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which restricts the release of information on violations to the UCSD Student Conduct Code and disciplinary actions from the university to students. Due to FERPA, the university is also unable to comment on open investigations, a category under which Graham confirms both incidents fall.