Charge Dismissed Against LU Student in Knife Threat Case

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A charge against a Liberty University student accused of threatening a classmate with a knife in November 2025 has been dismissed. The Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney said they did not have enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, citing messages between the suspect and victim that were "casual, familiar, and the victim specifically stated he did not scare her enough and that she would scare him next time, intermingled with emoji smiley faces."

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges prosecutors can face in proving assault charges, especially when the only witness is the alleged victim. The dismissal raises questions about campus safety and disciplinary procedures at Liberty University, a prominent Christian college.

The details

Aaron Perlman was charged with assault after a female student reported that he held a knife to her body and threatened to strangle her on November 19, 2025. This incident prompted a campus safety alert at Liberty University. Perlman was later banned from the university's campus. However, the Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney has now moved to dismiss the charge, citing a lack of evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

• The alleged incident occurred on November 19, 2025.
• The charge against Perlman was dismissed on February 13, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge's decision to dismiss the charge against Perlman raises questions about Liberty University's campus safety policies and disciplinary procedures, which may be further examined in the coming weeks.