UCLA Philosophy Professor Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Mass Shooting In Bizarre 800 Page Manifesto
After sending an 800-page manifesto packed with deadly threats to former colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, authorities said a former professor was arrested Tuesday. The arrest prompted evacuations and disruptions at institutions in two states.
ucla professors when there is literally an 800 page manifesto detailing a mass shooting threat: pic.twitter.com/u8i66tlRlY
— valeria! (@vaIeriachavez) February 1, 2022
https://t.co/6vFcjX5lUT so apparently a blaq UCLA professor threatened a school shooting today. Here is his manifesto – very intriguing table of contents 😂 pic.twitter.com/r5eKRAoDKb
— BL₳CK₤D R❂CK ↯ (@InnocentGolem) February 1, 2022
Matthew Harris, 31, was arrested in Boulder, Colorado after police spent hours working to evacuate a local elementary school and Greek life homes at the University of Colorado Boulder.
UCLA notified authorities after a “concerning email and posting” was addressed to several of the school’s faculty members on Sunday afternoon. Early Tuesday morning, the school said that law enforcement had verified that the individual was not in California. However, the institution stated that all classes were shifted to virtual settings “out of an abundance of caution.”
UCPD is actively working with out-of-state & federal agencies on threats sent to some members of our community. We do not have specific information that this individual is in CA. Out of an abundance of caution, all classes will be held remotely Feb 1. We will keep you updated.
— UCLA (@UCLA) February 1, 2022
Chief Maris Herold of the Boulder Officers Department said that police from UCLA followed the subject to Boulder and notified local and federal authorities of his whereabouts.
Herold stated that the threats were detailed in an 800-page manifesto that was sent to UCLA, which he described as “very violent and very disturbing.” She said the amount of detailed violence in the manifesto was “alarming” and explained that violent acts referring to Boulder universities and school grounds were made.
Herold said, “Upon reviewing parts of the manifesto, we identified thousands of references to violence, stating things such as killing, death, murder, shootings, bombs, schoolyard massacres.”
According to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty, the suspect sought to purchase a handgun in Colorado in November but was refused because a nationwide database highlighted a clause that stated he was not permitted to acquire a firearm. It’s unclear what prevented Harris from purchasing a weapon.
The threats in the manifesto were directed at the school’s philosophy department, where Harris had formerly worked. A profanity-laced email addressed to the department contained racial slurs and profanities.
A school newspaper at UCLA, the Daily Bruin, reported on a Youtube video uploaded by Harris on Sunday titled “UCLA PHILOSOPHY (MASS SHOOTING)”. The video referenced recent mass shootings, including the Las Vegas shooting. Another one of Harris’ videos discussed locations across UCLA’s campus on his “list”.
Alright, how does this professor still work at UCLA? Dr. Matthew Harris has posted some outlandish and very questionable material on his YouTube channel, and his students claim he made them watch adult content in class? pic.twitter.com/sPhTxlc7Q9
— Kimi Mendenhall (@KimiCheeksBro) February 1, 2022
The YouTube channel has been taken down from the platform.
Dr. Matthew Harris, former UCLA philosophy professor, had his YouTube channel banned. Not hard to see why.. pic.twitter.com/EeaNbnwFF6
— Kimi Mendenhall (@KimiCheeksBro) February 1, 2022
Harris was a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA who taught on the philosophy of race and personal identity. He was placed on administrative leave in 2021, according to the student-run newspaper, following accusations that he had emailed a pornographic film to a student.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for any updates.
