Man accused in UNC disturbance remains in custody ahead of court date
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- A man accused of causing a disturbance during a watch party at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill remains in custody in Wake County while facing charges in Orange County related to the incident.
Police said Keegan Wilson, 45, entered Greenlaw Hall on Aug. 31 and caused a disturbance. Students said he threw objects at people, damaged property and yelled racial slurs.
According to court documents, Wilson pushed and chased people with a sharp object, sprayed them with an alcohol-based substance, used a lighter, struck people and used offensive language.
Some students said the incident left them shaken.
"I think it was just a scary situation overall," Ariel Odugba said.
Odugba said she was inside the building when she heard the commotion and saw students running.
"I think the university could have done a better job of alerting students," Odugba said.
UNC Police said officers arrived about five minutes after receiving the call and apprehended Wilson about 10 minutes later. Police did not issue an Alert Carolina notification, saying there was no ongoing threat to campus safety after Wilson was taken into custody.
Some students said they still would have preferred to receive an alert.
Zara Azeem said she was outside the building when she was forced to leave the area without knowing why.
"It's important information," Azeem said. "It really disappointed me."
Wilson was expected to appear in Orange County court Friday on charges of disorderly conduct and simple assault involving one victim. However, he remains in Wake County on two other pending matters.
Court documents show that on Aug. 6, about three weeks before the UNC incident, Wilson was accused of breaking into a Wake County home and damaging glass paneling.
During Friday's proceedings in Orange County, attorneys also discussed Wilson's mental health and his involuntary commitment, a legal process that can require a person to receive mental health or substance use treatment when certain criteria are met.
Wilson's first appearance in Orange County is scheduled for Sept. 23. A judge set a $10,000 secured bond. If Wilson posts bond, he will be barred from UNC's campus and ordered to have no contact with the victim.
