A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student was expelled from school, and taken into custody by federal agents after a university spokesman says the student attempted to purchase an assault styled rifle.

In a notice sent to students and staff, RPI officials say federal authorities notified them on March 14 of a student attempting to purchase the weapon.

The Deprtment of Homeland Security is handling the investigation into a student attempting to purchase an ‘assault rifle.’ The student has been expelled. This is the message that went out to the #RPI community. @WTEN pic.twitter.com/OuCZLimIfh— Peter Eliopoulos (@petereliopoulos) March 25, 2019

With the help of university, local and federal law enforcement, they say the purchase was denied and the student was permanently removed from campus.

“At no time were guns or ammunition on the Rensselaer campus, nor was there any immediate threat to the campus community,“ Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Relations Richie Hunter said in the statement.“This was confirmed in a search performed by federal law enforcement.“

Officials say they notified students of what happened in an effort to quell rumors that have been spreading on social media. Many students however, still have lots of unanswered questions.