Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Students react to the news that a freshman on campus at USC has been arrested for having five guns in his dorm room.
17-year-old freshman Trevor Scott Stephens of Walterboro was arrested Tuesday after University police say they found five handguns in his dorm room. The police received the tip from a student in the Maxcy residence.
As students at USC prepare for their first day of school Thursday, the news that a first year freshman had been arrested for possession of five hand guns spread fast.
"Just really unbelievable. It makes me nervous bringing by baby to campus now," said Rochelle Outlaw a graduate student in the history program.
"It's defiantly scary. You want a safe campus and I think USC is known for that," said graduate student Meghan Fanning.
First year student Andrew Hall shared similar thoughts. "It kind of makes me nervous just thinking about it but I know the campus police here is pretty good."
USC spokesman Wes Hickman says police arrived to Stephens dorm Tuesday, when they confronted him they found a knife.
"One of the things that worked well in this instance is that our community recognized that something was a miss, and notified University officials," said Hickman. "The suspect consented to having his room searched and found five hand guns and he was subsequently charged."
The handguns, two 38 's as well as a 22 caliber and two nine millimeter handguns - and a pair of brass knuckles, were found in a bag in Stephens closet.
"The University's policy is state law. No handguns or guns of any type on campus or in dorm rooms," said Hickman.
Carolina's alert system sent out emails and social media messages to students informing them of the incident. Hickman says there is no policy to search students as they move into their dorm.
News19 asked the University's spokesman: "is there any reason to believe that this could have escalated into a situation like we saw in Denver or other campus shootings around the country?" Hickman responded, "there is no reason to believe that at this time although the investigation is still on going."
With the 2012 school year just hours away, students say this is a distraction they weren't planning on, having to think more about their safety that their school work.
"Honestly I thought they had better security than that. Allowing people come into their dorm room with guns is pretty unbelievable," said Outlaw.
Stephens has been charged with possession of firearms on school property and was released on a $20,000 surety bond. Stephens has been suspended from USC and is restricted from returning to campus or contacting students, faculty or staff as a condition of his suspension and bond.