UMass student dressed as comic book character ‘Rorschach’ arrested at gunpoint on charge of disturbing the peace

AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts student who police say created a disturbance by dressing as a comic book character and making obscene gestures at people and buildings on campus was arrested at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon.



UMass Deputy Police Chief Patrick Archbald said police began receiving calls around 3:12 p.m. from faculty and students about the man, identified as Hejian Liu, 20, of Newton, who was wearing a dark-colored trench coat, a scarf, gloves, a fedora and the mask of Rorschach, a character from the graphic novel series “Watchmen.”



Additionally, Liu, who was first seen in the area of the Campus Center and then headed toward the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, was making obscene gestures at people and buildings, Archbald said.



“He was acting very odd and drew the attention of others,” Archbald said. “He concerned a number of people as he walked around.”



UMass officers who responded asked Liu to stop his behavior, Archbald said. “Officers engaged him, but he ignored orders to stop,” he said.



Liu was then placed under arrest at gunpoint by officers on a charge of disturbing the peace, Archbald said.



Archbald said Liu told police that his intent in creating a disturbance was to remove himself as a student from UMass.





