Police: EVCC student who threatened instructor was angry about grade

EVERETT — Police believe a student who confronted an Everett Community College instructor at knifepoint Wednesday was angry about a grade.

He also was described in a police report as acting paranoid.

Witnesses told police that the student, 23, walked into the classroom and started an argument with his former art instructor about grades.

He then allegedly said, “This is fate.”

Police believe the man pulled a knife and reared back as if to stab the instructor.

When the student took a step forward, the instructor saw the knife, jumped back and vaulted over a table at the front of the classroom, court papers said.

Students and the instructor talked to the suspect until security officers arrived.

Security staff disarmed the man and held him until police reached the Whitehorse Hall classroom.

The instructor told police he feared for his life, court papers said.

The suspect said that he was acting in self-defense.

He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of assault. Bail was set at $50,000.

College officials said Thursday they can’t discuss an individual student’s conduct or educational records.

Typically, students are suspended in similar circumstances.

“Under the college’s student conduct code, any student who is a threat to himself or others will immediately be suspended pending the outcome of appropriate disciplinary procedures,” college spokeswoman Katherine Schiffner said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.

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