Man charged in LCC threat left U.S. Navy last year

A 19-year-old Delta Township man facing a terrorism charge in connection with an alleged threat at the Lansing Community College campus was a member of the U.S. Navy as recently as last year.

Damian Douglas Walker, an LCC student and 2016 graduate of DeWitt High School, was charged Thursday with false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony.

He was arrested Wednesday afternoon following the evacuation of three LCC campuses in downtown Lansing, Delta Township and East Lansing. When police arrested Walker, he had an AR-15 rifle, 12 loaded magazines, another rifle and additional ammunition.

Lt. Rodney Bahl, of the LCC Police Department, testified Walker had sent his friends photos of guns and ammunition. Police said friends of Walker’s contacted them about texts and Snapchat messages Walker had sent warning them to stay away from campus.

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Wearing a U.S. Navy hoodie and jeans, Walker was arraigned via video conference Thursday.

Walker, according to U.S. Navy records, enlisted with the Navy on July 19, 2016, and graduated from Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, on Sept. 17, 2016.

He entered Hospital Corpsman School in San Antonio, Texas shortly after and separated from the Navy on Dec. 27, 2016. The Hospital Corpsman Basic program is a 14-week introduction to medical and emergency medical care.

Cullen James, a public affairs specialist for U.S. Navy Personnel Command, declined to elaborate on the nature of Walker’s separation. He said characterization of discharge is protected by privacy laws unless the information is included in a court martial.

Walker also was involved in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet program as recently as 2012, according to LSJ archives.

Walker told Magistrate Laura Millmore Thursday that he currently works for Mobile Medical Response, a medical transportation service out of Saginaw. On his Facebook page, Walker noted he was an EMT for the company.

Calls to MMR Thursday and Friday were not immediately returned.

Walker is being held on $100,000 cash bond.

Reporter Chris Haxel contributed to this report. Contact Reporter Beth LeBlanc at 517-377-1167 or eleblanc@gannett.com. On Twitter @LSJBethLeBlanc.