Overview
- Campus police, responding to a trespassing call Sunday, found 31-year-old Xin Tong on Wells Hall’s fifth floor with multiple bags holding chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, butane and sodium hydroxide.
- Prosecutors charged Tong with operating or maintaining a meth lab and malicious destruction of property over $20,000, and a judge ordered him held on a $500,000 cash or surety bond after his Wednesday arraignment.
- Investigators said they did not locate an active meth lab inside the building, and officials noted the seized items are legal to buy but can become dangerous when mixed.
- MSU’s environmental health team said testing shows no risk to the campus community, while Wells Hall stays closed through Friday so crews can inspect, clean damaged surfaces and support the investigation, with exams moved to other sites or online.
- Prosecutors said Tong has not been enrolled at MSU since 2022, alleged damage to floors, doors and fixtures occurred between April 10 and April 26, and a pretrial hearing is set for May 8.