Student charged with bringing loaded AR-15-style rifle to NC State campus

A 19-year-old was arrested Sunday for allegedly bringing a loaded AR-15-style rifle on the North Carolina State University campus.

Adam Mahmoud Sulaiman, 19, of Apex, who is dual-enrolled at Wake Technical Community College and N.C. State, was arrested and charged with bringing a gun on educational property.

According to police, a student reported seeing a rifle in an unoccupied truck after 4 p.m. Sunday. Officers responded and saw a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 rifle in the vehicle.

The arrest warrant said the truck was parked on Cates Avenue, near Owen Hall.

Sulaiman's attorney said the student forgot the weapon was inside his truck. 

The rifle, loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition, was taken into custody along with 46 rounds of 9mm ammunition. No 9mm handgun was located.

The university said no WolfAlert was sent because campus police immediately seized the gun and arrested the 19-year-old.

Sulaiman appeared in court Monday afternoon, where a judge said he could receive up to 24 months in prison.

James Jackson, Sulaiman's attorney, told WRAL News his client "is a kind young man with no criminal history who is respected in his community," adding "he is a lawful gun owner."

Jackson sent a full statement to WRAL News explaining his client forgot the weapon was in his car, saying, "The charge against him is the result of inadvertence, in that, as I understand the allegation, Adam forgot the firearm was in the back of his truck when he went onto campus to work out in the gym with friends. Adam is committed to continuing to cooperate with authorities to resolve this matter in the quickest and best way possible. It is Adam’s hope that this is a learning opportunity for all young people who engage in otherwise lawful off-campus shooting sports while simultaneously involved in educational pursuits."

Students on the N.C. State campus told WRAL News they didn't even know about the incident.

"I didn't know about that until just now, so it's definitely concerning," freshman Hanna Sterman said.

It remains unclear why Sulaiman had the rifle on campus.

His father told WRAL News it was a misunderstanding, but students said it makes them worry, especially in the wake of recent school shootings, including the shooting at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in September.

"I'm very glad someone did say something and bring it up [despite] the circumstance," a sophomore told WRAL News. "You don't know why it's in there until you talk to the guy."

Sulaiman's attorney spoke with WRAL News, saying his client forgot the gun was in his truck when was on campus to work out with friends. The attorney added Sulaiman has no criminal history and is a legal gun owner.