Police: Former Purdue student found with cache of weapons, ammunition

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Au is not currently enrolled at Purdue this semester, according to a university spokesman.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Former Purdue student Spencer C.W. Au started losing his battle with depression, and his behavior towards his roommates turned sadistic, so the roommates left their apartment and one of their professors interceded by calling police, according to a probable cause affidavit and police.

When police searched Au's apartment at 1120 Northwestern Ave., they found a cache of rifles, pistols, shotguns, a large quantity of ammunition and numerous magazines used to feed ammunition into firearms, according to the probable cause affidavit. Police also found tactical vests and bulletproof vests with ceramic ballistics plates, which can stop a rifle bullet.

Police confiscated the 13 firearms, which included one revolver, four semiautomatic pistols, a shotgun, and rifles, including AR-15-style rifles, AK-47-style rifles and SKS-style rifles, West Lafayette police Lt. Jon Eager said.

The rifles and handguns were all legally purchased and had not been modified, Eager said, noting that agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives inspected each weapon and ran a check on the pieces.

Police also removed thousands of rounds of ammunition, Eager said, noting he did not know specifically how many bullets there were, but he said one large box of ammunition that had not been opened contained 1,200 rounds.

Au appeared to be a gun collector, Eager said, but given officers' concern about Au's health, police got a search warrant to remove the weapons for public safety and to look for drugs.

Au, 22, is from California, police said.

He was enrolled at Purdue's College of Liberal Arts in the fall semester, but he currently is not a student at the university, according to Purdue spokesman Brian Zink.

Au showed up for an interview with West Lafayette police wearing an empty holster, telling police he left the pistol at a friend's house. Police later confiscated his sidearm and a stun gun from that friend, according to the affidavit.

Au's roommates told police how Au battled depression and experienced violent mood swings, according to the affidavit. Au admitted to police he was self-medicating to cope with his depression, according to the affidavit.

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His behavior became more violent as the fall turned to winter, according to the affidavit.

Au used a stun gun on one of his roommates and pointed a loaded handgun at another, according to police.

His roommates left, and West Lafayette police began their investigation on Jan. 22.

In addition to the cache of weapons and ammunition, police found drugs and marijuana pipes and bongs during their search of Au's apartment. They also found two safes, which Au later opened for police when he came in to talk with them.

Inside the safes, police found more indication of drug use with residue and drugs.

On Friday, prosecutors charged Au with possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery, pointing a firearm, criminal recklessness and maintaining a common nuisance.

The possession of cocaine charge was elevated to a Level 5 felony because Au allegedly possessed firearms, Eager said.

Police arrested Au on Saturday. He posted bond about 5:10 p.m. Sunday and was released from the Tippecanoe County Jail.

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