A Black student at Mississippi State University is alleging that he was falsely accused of making terrorist threats and that law enforcement wrongfully handcuffed and arrested him. The incident happened after he visited the Office of Financial Aid to resolve an issue with one of his academic scholarships on Wednesday.
A press release from attorney Harry Daniels says that Zayden Leonard, a 21-year-old junior biological sciences major, called the university’s Office of Financial Aid on Wednesday to get help regarding a scholarship so he could ensure he would not be dropped from any of his fall classes. After the phone call did not provide the clarity he sought, he said he went to visit the office in person.
Daniels’ statement alleges that Leonard was sitting in a chair waiting for someone to assist him when “at least six law enforcement officers” approached and ordered him “to stand and put his hands behind his back as he was handcuffed and arrested. Officers would later explain to Leonard that one of the financial aid employees had called them claiming that Leonard had threatened to blow up the financial aid office, a charge that could result in up to ten years in federal prison,” Daniels’ press release claimed.
But Leonard made no such threat, the press release says, adding that the Irondale, Alabama, native had never been in any legal trouble prior to Wednesday. He is “the picture of responsibility and academic excellence” who had received $900,000 in scholarship offers from several universities upon his 2023 graduation from Shades Valley High School, the press release says. He chose MSU, which awarded him with a few scholarships, and he has participated in more than 10 student organizations on campus, the press release notes.
“This is a painful reminder that the days of Emmett Till (aren’t) so far past when one lie from the police can put a promising young Black life at risk,” Daniels said in the press release.
Leonard has retained Daniels as his attorney, who said his team is looking into legal options for Leonard, including potentially filing a civil lawsuit against MSU.
“As a father, an attorney and an American, this is terrifying,” Daniels said. “Zayden Leonard is everything a parent could want. He’s smart, hard-working, respectful and genuinely kind. He did everything right but (was) thrust in a dangerous situation that could have cost him his future, his freedom and his life because some employee called the police with this ridiculous lie.”
Sid Salter, the vice president for Strategic Communications at MSU, said in a statement to the Mississippi Free Press that police have not charged Leonard with a crime.
“Mississippi State University’s foremost responsibility is maintaining a safe environment for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors,” he said in a Thursday statement to the Mississippi Free Press. “When concerns are reported involving potential threats to campus personnel or operations, established safety and reporting procedures are followed. The university cooperates with appropriate law enforcement authorities while also ensuring that students have access to applicable university resources and support services. Because this matter involves an ongoing legal and student discipline process, it would be inappropriate for the university to comment further other than to say that at this time, the student in question has not been charged.”
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