Cornell Student Arrested Near Syracuse University with Rifle Claims He Was Just Waiting for Bus

The 22-year-old's lawyer says his client legally purchased the gun and was only at the bus stop, not on campus.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:53pm

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A 22-year-old Cornell University student was arrested near Syracuse University for having a rifle, but his lawyer claims the student was simply waiting at a bus stop to return to Ithaca after legally purchasing the gun. The student, Mateu Healey-Parera, was found on Waverley Avenue behind the Schine Student Center around the time thousands of fans were headed to a Syracuse Orange basketball game. His lawyer says Healey-Parera got off the bus at the same stop earlier that day to buy the hunting rifle and was just returning to the bus stop for the ride back to his residence near Cornell.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about gun laws, campus safety, and the rights of individuals to legally purchase firearms, even in close proximity to university campuses. It also highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in determining intent and differentiating between legitimate and potentially threatening behavior.

The details

Police were tipped off about a suspicious man with a rifle case near Crouse College on the Syracuse University campus. They found Healey-Parera on Waverley Avenue behind the Schine Student Center, where he was arrested and found to have ammunition in his backpack. His lawyer claims Healey-Parera legally purchased the gun at a shop and was simply waiting at the bus stop to return to Ithaca, where he lives near Cornell University.

  • On Saturday, March 7, 2026, Healey-Parera was arrested around the same time thousands of fans were headed to a Syracuse Orange basketball game at the JMA Wireless Dome.
  • Earlier that same day, Healey-Parera had gotten off the bus at the same stop to purchase the rifle.

The players

Mateu Healey-Parera

A 22-year-old Cornell University student who was arrested for having a rifle near the Syracuse University campus.

Jordan McNamara

The defense attorney representing Healey-Parera, who claims his client was only at the bus stop and not on the Syracuse University campus.

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What they’re saying

“He purchased the gun, which he legally purchased at a gun shop, and... taking the bus back to Ithaca.”

— Jordan McNamara, Defense attorney

“Everything he did that day — with the exception of where the bus was — was legally protected stuff that Americans do every single day.”

— Jordan McNamara, Defense attorney

“Because it's a Constitutionally-protected right to purchase a gun.”

— Jordan McNamara, Defense attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Healey-Parera out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities around gun laws, campus safety, and the rights of individuals to legally purchase firearms, even in close proximity to university campuses. It also raises questions about how law enforcement should respond to potentially suspicious behavior near schools and universities.