Man Who Shot Milo Yiannopoulos Protester Is UW Student: Report

SEATTLE, WA - The man who turned himself in to University of Washington police after allegedly shooting a protester at a demonstration outside a recent Milo Yiannopoulos event on campus is a student, according to a new report.

The alleged shooter is 29-year-old senior at the University of Washington, and police have reportedly notified the school's Student Conduct Code Office about his involvement in the shooting, the South Seattle Emerald is reporting. The news website reported that University of Washington police Maj. Steve Rittereiser made the comment about the conduct office during an interview.

The shooting happened during a chaotic protest outside the Yiannopoulos event on Jan. 20 as the 29-year-old man scuffled with anti-fascist protesters. A video of the incident shows the alleged shooter surrounded by protesters immediately before the shooting.

The 34-year-old victim was seriously wounded after being shot in the abdomen. He is reportedly still recovering from the shooting, and has been unable to speak to police about what happened. In a statement issued though his attorney, Sarah Lippek, the victim said that he doesn't want the shooter punished by the legal system.

“My client isn’t interested in using the apparatus of the state to punish the individual,” Lippek told The Guardian newspaper. “He’d like to engage in dialogue and a restorative justice process.”

The victim is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, which is connected to the socialist and anarchist movements.

University of Washington police, in coordination with King County prosecutors, decided to release the alleged shooter after the incident saying that he did not pose any danger to the campus. The man was apparently at the event to see Yiannopoulos. The Seattle Times has reported that the alleged shooter sent a message to Yiannopoulos on social media asking for an autographed "Make America Great Again" hat after he lost his in the midst of the Jan. 20 protest.

Image via Patch.com