Gun Ammo, Knives, Plans Found In St. Olaf Student's Dorm Room: Police

NORTHFIELD, MN — A 20-year-old former St. Olaf College student faces weapons and terrorism charges after police said they found gun ammo, and knives in his dorm room.

Waylon S. Kurts, of Vermont, faces one count of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, one count of conspiracy to commit threats of violence, one count of terroristic threats, and one count of conspiracy to commit theft.

If convicted, Kurts faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

On April 5 at 11 a.m., St. Olaf College custodial staff located two empty packages for high capacity magazines, one for a rifle (60 rounds), the other for a Glock pistol (24 rounds), in a garbage can outside the dorm rooms.

The garbage can also contained packaging that belonged to Kurts but was addressed to a residence off campus, according to the criminal complaint.

St. Olaf Public safety personnel subsequently searched Kurts’ room and, according to authorities, found the following items:

• Tactical vest with 3 rifle magazine capacity
• Empty box of Sterling ammunition
• Two empty boxes for 60-round rifle magazine drums
• Tactical knife
• Folding knife
• Firearm earmuffs
• Propane canisters
• Three rifle magazine carriers
• 24-round extended Glock pistol magazine
• Fireworks
• Lighter fluid
• A note with St. Olaf Public Safety radio frequencies
• Battery with wires
• Lock pick set
• Notebooks with "extensive writings" including:
  • plans to steal .308 ammunition from Walmart
  • a hand-drawn map of the recreational facility on campus with arrows showing an exit path
  • a page with the preface "spending more money should only be done if more capability is a direct result"

St. Olaf's public safety director, Derek Kruse, met with Kurts after the search.

Kurts said he was a gun enthusiast and believed he wasn't breaking any college rules by having weapons in his dorm room, according to the criminal complaint.

Asked if Kruse could search his vehicle, Kurts said no unless the Northfield Police Department obtained a search warrant, the criminal complaint continues.

Kurts was suspended by the college and removed from campus, according to authorities.

On April 6, police seized Kurt’s vehicle and the cell phone on him at the time, investigators said.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators found conversations about shipping items to different locations so that packages would not be flagged as suspicious.

Photos of a box on a bench at the St. Olaf campus was accompanied with the text, "Kids’ve got no idea what's in here, haha," authorities said.

Officers searched Kurts’ vehicle and found a small notebook with extensive notes on combat and guns for example, according to the criminal complaint.

Among the writings was a note that said "7/10 people shot with handguns survive. Shoot a lot," the criminal complaint continued.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article misstated what police said they found in the dorm room.