Teen Arrested at Trump Tower with Bag of Weapons
A 19-year-old Baruch College student was arrested inside Trump Tower with a bag of weapons and fireworks on Tuesday, December 12.
The teen, identified as Alexander Wang, was arrested after he was stopped by Secret Service at a checkpoint inside the building and asked what he had in his backpack. Wang told the agents that he had several weapons including a hunting knife, an M100 firecracker, garrote and a switchblade. He also had on him handcuffs, an 8-foot rope and a water gun.
Wang told Secret Service that he is a self-proclaimed “survivalist” and he travels with these things in his backpack all the time. He explained that he likes to use the lounge at Trump Tower to study for his college classes and has done so several times.
When asked, Wang told security officials that he had been inside the building, undetected, with his cache at least twice since the election. A third party told the New York Post that the NYPD is saying the security breach is “on the Secret Service,” as the department is handling the checkpoints inside the building.
A search into Wang’s dorm at Baruch turned up additional fireworks, but nothing more. A spokesperson for the college said they will cooperate with law enforcement agencies “as needed.”
Wang was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal possession in the fourth degree and unlawful possession of fireworks, police said. He has no prior record and was released the same night on his own recognizance.