Widener student accused of making online threat

A Widener University student was arrested by Chester police after posting a threatening message on the social-media site Yik Yak, officials said Tuesday.

Luis Andres Vela, 20, a freshman criminal-justice major from Lodi, N.J., was charged with making terrorist threats, simple assault and harassment, Chester police said.

The message, which had references to the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, was removed minutes after it was posted just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Students who saw the posting reported it to the campus safety office, said Dan Hansen, Widener's director of public relations. The university alerted students and faculty to the threat. The campus was not locked down, Hansen said.

The student was cooperating with police, Deputy Chief Otis Blair said. No weapons were found. "He said that bullying might have been an issue and that he may have been lashing out as a result," Blair said. "We have to look into that, as well."

- Mari A. Schaefer