Sandy MaloneLexington, KY – Police arrested a body armor-clad man with a gun and several explosive devices outside a medical center at the University of Kentucky (UK) on Thursday afternoon.
University of Kentucky police said they received a tip from another law enforcement agency early on March 25 warning that an armed man might be headed to Albert B. Chandler Hospital on the UK campus, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said the person who reported it to police warned that the suspect – 44-year-old Bryan Carroll of Versailles – was armed and dangerous and headed to the hospital to visit a relative.
Chief Monroe said police used the surveillance system at the hospital to quickly locate Carroll, who had already gotten inside to make his visit, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
He said that officers were waiting when Carroll exited the hospital.
“We were able to find the individual. Took him down as soon as he walked out the door of the hospital without incident,” the police chief explained.
“We did find firearms on his person, as well as body armor and what we believe to be a couple of explosive devices,” Chief Monroe said.
UK police advised students to avoid the area around the hospital’s emergency room just before 11 a.m., the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
@jaketapper The scene in Lexington at UK Hospital as the bomb squad arrives. https://t.co/mYAdWPbpCB
— Coach Cal’s Beard (@CoachCalsBeard) March 25, 2021
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials and personnel also responded to the scene to assist.
The area remained shut down while the bomb squad used a robot to investigate the explosive devices, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
Bomb squad at uk chandler hospital. pic.twitter.com/QsRM9S2f8Q
— Kayla Grubb (@LittleSassy7) March 25, 2021
Chief Monroe disputed rumors that the incident had ever been a hostage situation that had blown up on social media.
“No one was in danger at any time,” he told reporters. “This was a very quick response and take down.”
@joeimel person with a bomb vest is at UK Hospital ER. One hostage released. Police and bomb squad onsite. pic.twitter.com/hE9py4GPt0
— John Harnage (@jHarnage) March 25, 2021
Chief Monroe said that Carroll would be facing multiple state and federal charges in connection with the incident, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Online jail records showed Carroll was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center on four counts of third-degree use of a weapon of mass destruction, five counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a weapon on school property.
He was also charged with resisting arrest, fleeing from police, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Officials have not confirmed whether the devices turned out to be explosives.
Federal authorities searched Carroll’s home in Versailles, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
FBI spokesman Tim Beam said the federal agency had no prior knowledge of the suspect.
Carroll’s arrest on UK’s campus came just two days after a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado left 10 people dead, and one day after a heavily-armed man was arrested in an Atlanta grocery store, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Holly Matkin
