Gonzaga University to review its gun policy after a recent incident involving two students

Two students at Gonzaga University recently had an encounter with an intruder in their university-run apartment. The two roommates, Erik Fagan and Daniel McIntosh, used a pistol to scare of the intruder, but were promptly put on probation when the school found out about the incident. Now the university says it will use the scenario to re-examine its weapons policy. “As a Jesuit institution dedicated to thoughtful evaluation of complex social issues,” Gonzaga will take another look at its policy, President Thayne McCulloh said.

On October 24, a homeless man looking for money tried to break into the university apartment. Fagan tried to give the man food and a blanket, but that only seemed to agitate the intruder. That’s when McIntosh came in with the pistol. “I draw on him,” McIntosh said. “As soon as he sees me, he decides he doesn’t want to deal with me. So he takes off.”

The lawyer of the two students, Dean Chuang, says that safety should be the number one priority. “We’re glad that it didn’t have to end in tragedy for them to consider changing the policy there,” Chuang said. “Our boys were armed and stopped a home invasion here.” Fagan reported that he had a concealed weapons permit, and is saying that the gun was taken from him illegally.