Man Who Threatened To 'Shoot Up' MCC Being Monitored After Release

MANCHESTER, CT — A man who made threats to Manchester Community College was released from custody after posting a $100,000 bond Tuesday, but is being closely monitored by authorities, police said.

According to case records, on May 23, the Manchester Police Department was notified that Darius Burke, a 27-year-old Manchester resident, had made threats to "harm himself and others over the phone." The caller reported that Burke said he was going to "shoot up" Manchester Community College and then kill himself," according to case records.

It was also reported Burke declared he would "not be satisfied with his life until he goes through with his plan of killing a large group of people," according to case records.

Investigators located Burke at Rockville General Hospital and, when confronted about the statements he made, he admitted to having thoughts related to what was reported, case records show.

Police then requested that an "emergency evaluation" be conducted on Burke "based on the information obtained" and Burke was placed in "medical care" at that time, according to case records.

Investigators determined that Burke had made multiple threats to harm himself and others and, based on "an escalating pattern of behavior and the specific threats of violence Burke expressed," officers prepared an arrest warrant and a risk protection order for Burke which were both approved," case records show.

A risk protection order is an order police can ask the court to issue that prevents a person, who is an immediate risk of "causing personal injury to themselves or another person," from having or obtaining "firearms, deadly weapons, or ammunition."

On Monday, Burke was taken into custody upon his release from the hospital and was placed under arrest.

He has been charged with:

• Second-degree breach of peace
• Second-degree threatening

Burke was initially held on a $100,000 bond until he appeared in court Tuesday. Burke was then released after he posted the bond, police said.

Police said Burke will be monitored by a GPS bracelet at least until his next appearance in court, which is scheduled for June 17.

The risk protection order remains active, Manchester police said, and Manchester Community College and MCC Police were made aware of the threats made by Burke, and additionally were notified of his release today, authorities said.

Police said, that, as of June 1, 2022, any family or household member, or medical professional, may apply for a risk protection order investigation with the clerk of the court in their geographical area. For more information, residents can visit the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch website (www.jud.ct.gov).