Minnesota Forum

Alert custodian likely thwarted St. Olaf student’s plan for mass casualty event

Posted on: April 11, 2023

From the Rice County DA’s office

A custodian's trash can discovery has led to charges against a St. Olaf student believed to have been planning a mass casualty event.

The Rice County Attorney’s Office on Monday charged the student, Waylon Sieber Kurts, 20, of Montpelier, Vermont, with three felonies: conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit acts of violence and making terroristic threats after a campus custodian found high-capacity magazine packages along with packaging addressed to Kurts in a garbage can outside campus dorm rooms.

The custodian, who uncovered the packaging on April 5, reported his findings to St. Olaf Public Safety officials, who found a tactical vest, empty ammunition boxes and rifle magazines, knives, lighter fluid, propane canisters and fireworks in Kurts’ dorm room. Public Safety officers also found a note listing Public Safety radio frequencies and notebooks detailing plans to steal ammunition from a local store and create an indoor firing range typically used to train law enforcement and military personnel in close quarters combat. Included in the writings was a hand-drawn map that include a path of travel through the campus’ recreational facility.

During an April 5 interview with the school’s Public Safety director, Kurts reported that he was a gun enthusiast and believed the equipment in his dorm room wasn’t a violation of college policy. He then claimed he stored his high-capacity magazines and ammunition off campus.

Kurts was suspended and removed from campus.

Northfield Police were contacted and began searching for Kurts, who did not return their calls. He was arrested in Edina shortly after noon on Thursday.

Officers were able to recover a duffle bag of Kurts’ with a laptop, cell phone and two hand-held radios inside. They also contacted the business which Kurts claimed he used for ammunition storage, but were told they don’t offer that service.

Officials found several text messages on Kurts’ phone that included discussions about firearms, building rifles and radio frequencies, and shipping items to various locations to keep from arousing suspicion. One message included a photo of a box filled with rifle magazines placed on a campus bench that included comments about how students would react if they knew what was inside the box..

Inside his vehicle was another notebook with notes on combat, guns and where on the body to shoot a person to inflict the most damage.

Rice County Attorney Brian Mortenson thanked St. Olaf Public Safety, Northfield Police and officers in the metro for their work in apprehending Kurts. He singled out the alert St. Olaf custodian who likely thwarted a full-scale attack on the school and its students.

“The message that if you ‘see something to say something,’ cannot be overstated,” said Mortenson. “In this case, one person’s discovery led law enforcement to apprehend an individual who appeared intent on causing great harm in our community. We owe that person a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

Kurts, who was also charged with conspiracy to commit theft, a misdemeanor, is currently in the Rice County Jail. He appeared on Monday before District Court Judge Christine Long, who granted him bail of $100,000 with conditions, $200,000 without.

His next appearance in court is scheduled for April 21.

The investigation into this case is continuing.

From Northfield Police

Suspect in custody: threats of violence investigation

On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the Northfield Police Department was contacted by St. Olaf College about a report of suspicious, weapon related items found in a residential hall on campus. St. Olaf College Public Safety conducted a room search and located firearms magazines along with other items of concern. A St. Olaf student was identified and was interviewed by St. Olaf officials. The student was suspended and left campus.

As the investigation continued, additional items connected to potential acts of violence were located in the residence hall room. Due to the nature of the items and potential for violence, the Northfield Police requested assistance from various partner agencies to include the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The investigation led to a probable cause arrest for threats of violence to be issued for Waylon Sieber Kurts, age 20. On April 6, 2023, Kurts was located in his vehicle in Hennepin County and placed under arrest by the Northfield Police Department. It is believed this is an isolated event and there is no ongoing threat to students or the campus.

This continues to be an active investigation. There is no further information available at this time.

Kurts sitting in jail in Rice County: