BOULDER — A University of Colorado student has been arrested after making “threatening” comments in class that seemed sympathetic toward the gunman who killed 32 students at Virginia Tech, authorities said.

Max Karson was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of interfering with staff, faculty or students of an education institution.

His age and hometown were not available, and a university spokesman did not immediately return a call today to The Associated Press.

University police Cmdr. Brad Wiesley said that during a class discussion of the Virginia Tech massacre, Karson “made comments about understanding how someone could kill 32 people.”

Several witnesses told investigators that Karson said he was “angry about all kinds of things, from the fluorescent light bulbs to the unpainted walls, and it made him angry enough to kill people,” according to a police report.

Wiesley said others in the class interpreted Karson’s statements as threats.

“More than one student said they were afraid,” Wiesley said. “They said they were afraid of him and afraid to come to class with him.”

Michael Karson, Max Karson’s father, told the Boulder Daily Camera that his son’s comments may have been misinterpreted.

The elder Karson questioned whether his son’s free-speech rights had been violated.

“I would have hoped that state officials would know their First Amendment better than they seem to,” he said.