Grand Junction police arrested 19-year-old Colorado Mesa University student Charles Michael Labbo Friday afternoon after he allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at another student inside Monument Hall and then hid the weapon in a shared dorm bathroom.
The incident, reported around 3:30 p.m. on February 14, 2025, has shaken the tight-knit campus of roughly 9,000 students and sparked fresh fears about safety in college housing.
Labbo now faces serious felony charges, including prohibited use of a weapon while intoxicated and felony menacing, plus misdemeanor counts of illegal firearm possession on school grounds and minor in possession of marijuana.
What Exactly Happened Inside Monument Hall
Witnesses told Grand Junction Police that Labbo appeared heavily intoxicated when he pulled a black Glock 19 9mm handgun from his waistband, pointed it at another male student, and made threatening statements.
Minutes later, residents discovered the same loaded pistol wrapped in a towel inside a communal bathroom on the third floor.
Police recovered the gun, a magazine with 15 rounds, and a small amount of marijuana from Labbo’s room.
Officers located Labbo walking near 12th Street and North Avenue shortly after the 911 calls came in. He was taken into custody without further incident and booked into Mesa County Detention Facility.
The Charges Labbo Faces
- Prohibited use of weapons (intoxicated while armed) – Class 1 misdemeanor
- Menacing (felony) – placing another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon
- Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit – misdemeanor
- Illegal possession of a firearm on school grounds – misdemeanor
- Minor in possession of marijuana – petty offense
His bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety. As of Sunday evening, Labbo remained in custody.
Campus Reaction and Safety Measures
Colorado Mesa University officials locked down Monument Hall briefly while police searched the building. Classes continued normally, but many students described an afternoon of panic and confusion.
CMU President John Marshall released a statement Saturday:
“The safety of our campus community is our highest priority. Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited in university housing and on campus grounds except for authorized law enforcement. We are cooperating fully with the Grand Junction Police Department and have suspended the student involved pending the outcome of both criminal and student conduct proceedings.”
The university has increased public safety patrols in residence halls and reminded students about the “Mavs Safe” app for immediate emergency reporting.
A Growing Fear on Colorado Campuses
Friday’s arrest comes just weeks after threatening graffiti appeared in a CMU bathroom and less than two years after the University of Colorado Boulder locked down over reports of a man with a gun (later deemed not credible).
National statistics paint a darker picture. The FBI reported 298 active shooter incidents across the U.S. from 2017 to 2023, with colleges and universities among the most common locations after schools and businesses.
Even one gun pointed in anger inside a dorm is one too many for students who already deal with midterms, jobs, and mental health pressures.
Many CMU students spent the weekend texting parents, moving valuables out of dorms, and questioning whether Grand Junction still feels like the safe mountain town they chose for college.
One sophomore who lives in Monument Hall told reporters Saturday, “I picked CMU because it felt small and safe. Now I jump every time a door slams.”
As Labbo’s case moves through Mesa County Court, the incident serves as another painful reminder that no campus, no matter how peaceful it appears, is immune from the realities of guns in America.
What do you think CMU and other Colorado colleges should do to keep students safe? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
