House standoff leads to NC college lockdown

BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- A North Carolina college was locked down because a man locked himself in his house on campus Wednesday when police tried to serve him with a warrant after his arrest on a charge of stealing an assault rifle, officials said.

Student Jared Dale Knight, 24, lives in a university-owned house on the edge of the Campbell University campus in a rural area about 40 miles south of Raleigh. He locked himself inside when Harnett County deputies arrived about 2 p.m. and police have surrounded the home. It wasn't clear if he was armed, said university spokesman Britt Davis.

A police spokeswoman confirmed Knight is accused of stealing an AR-15 carbine from a gun store where he works. He was arrested Tuesday in the town of Fuquay-Varina on a charge of felony larceny by an employee. He was released from Wake County jail on a $3,000 secured bond.

Police said they didn't believe anyone else was in danger, but canceled evening classes and called for faculty and students to remain indoors as a precaution.

Police were calling the situation "contained" as negotiators tried to convince Knight to come out, said Davis. It wasn't immediately clear what the warrant was for.

Knight worked at Sovereign Guns, a firearms store in the town. Police say they recovered an AR-15 carbine when they arrested Knight.

Fuquay-Varina police spokeswoman Susan Weis said police are investigating a report of other guns missing from the store, but wouldn't say how many weapons might be involved.

Campbell, a Baptist-affiliated university, is located in Buies Creek.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)