University Of Delaware Student Arrested With Machinegun Plans

The arrest of a University of Delaware student in late November stopped what authorities say could have been a major violent attack on campus, with police finding firearms, body armor, and a notebook detailing tactics and a drawing of the campus police building. Law enforcement coordinated a search and federal investigators later charged the suspect with possession of a machinegun, and officials continue to investigate the planning and intent behind the materials recovered.

Police in Wilmington stopped a vehicle in a park after hours and detained the driver when he refused to exit the car. Officers searched the vehicle and found multiple weapons and equipment that immediately raised alarms about a planned, targeted attack. Those items included firearms, extended magazines, body armor, and a laptop, all pointing to preparation beyond casual possession.

Police searched the Tacoma and found several items inside, including a loaded handgun, extended magazines, body armor, a laptop and binoculars.

They also found a notebook, which allegedly contained notes on warfare techniques, assault plans, and a diagram of the University of Delaware Police Department.

The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Luqmaan Khan, a student at the University of Delaware, and authorities say the case grew more serious after investigators reviewed the notebook found in the vehicle. According to law enforcement, the notebook referenced a member of the campus police by name and included a drawing of the department building with entry and exit points marked. Those details prompted immediate federal involvement and a search of Khan’s residence.

According to police, the notebook also mentioned a member of the University of Delaware Police Department by name and included a drawing of the department’s building with entry and exit points.

Federal authorities were contacted and searched his home, where they allegedly found a handgun equipped with an illegal “switch” to convert it into a machine gun.

The FBI shared information about the incident publicly as the case unfolded, noting concerns about the scope of the planning and the steps described in the written materials. Investigators reported that the notebook included discussions on weapons, how those weapons could be used in an attack, and methods to avoid law enforcement detection after an incident. Those specifics helped federal agents justify expanding the investigation and pursuing charges beyond state-level offenses.

Within the vehicle, officers discovered a firearm, ammunition, and a composition notebook. In the handwritten notebook, Khan discussed additional weapons and firearms, how they could be used in an attack, and how law enforcement detection could be avoided once an attack was carried out.

News of the arrest arrived amid a tense national backdrop that included recent attacks on servicemembers and several attempted acts of violence around the country. That context made the discovery on the vehicle and at the suspect’s home especially concerning to officials worried about copycat incidents or lone actors carrying out high-casualty events. Federal prosecutors stepped in quickly to ensure the investigation covered any broader connections or additional threats.

The Department of Justice filed a criminal complaint charging Khan with possessing a machinegun, a federal offense that carries significant penalties if proven. “The criminal complaint charges Khan with possessing a machinegun. If convicted of the charge, Khan faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment. If Khan is ultimately convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors,” the complaint states. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Frey and Kevin P. Pierce, with Criminal Chief Carly A. Hudson also involved in the matter.

The criminal complaint charges Khan with possessing a machinegun. If convicted of the charge, Khan faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment. If Khan is ultimately convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Castle County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Frey and Kevin P. Pierce, and Criminal Chief Carly A. Hudson, are prosecuting the case.

University officials moved quickly to separate the student from campus activities while the legal process moves forward, banning him from university property pending the outcome of the investigation. Interim university leaders confirmed the campus ban and said they were cooperating with law enforcement and sharing information as permitted. Administrators emphasized the temporary nature of the separation while legal matters are addressed.

Authorities have not released extensive background details on the suspect beyond his residence in Wilmington, and investigators continue to interview potential witnesses and review digital evidence. The focus remains on determining whether the materials represented a concrete plan that would have been executed and whether any accomplices or external influences were involved. Federal and local agencies say the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges could follow if more offenses are uncovered.

The rapid response by New Castle County Police and federal agents prevented what officials described as an imminent threat to the campus community, and prosecutors now prepare to present the evidence in court. As the case proceeds, courts will review the nature of the offenses and any applicable sentencing guidelines if a conviction occurs. For now, the matter is in the hands of investigators and the judicial system as they sort out intent, capability, and culpability.