A student was arrested after drawing a 34-inch sword and threatening two people Tuesday night in an IM Sports-West gym.
Engineering arts senior Giaphong Hoang drew a traditional Japanese sword with a 22-inch blade, called a katana, on two people who refused to give him a basketball back after they played a game.
Hoang was arraigned and charged with possession of a concealed weapon before Judge David Jordan in East Lansing's 54-B District Court on Wednesday morning.
MSU police suggested prosecutors charge Hoang with assault, but East Lansing Prosecutor Marie Wolfe said she believed Hoang was just trying to defend himself.
Hoang could not be reached. A family member answering the phone refused to comment.
Carrying a concealed weapon is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and up to a $1,000 fine.
The sword was drawn after a dispute ensued about who owned the basketball used in a game between Hoang, his younger brother and two others, MSU Police Lt. John McCandless said.
Hoang removed the sword from a duffel bag and held it threateningly at his side, police said.
As Hoang approached the two people he had been playing with, a witness called 911 from a cell phone, police said.
Another 23-year-old male student was charged with assault and battery after he tried to leave with the bag and sword.
He became involved in an altercation with a man who tried to stop him from leaving. The student struck the man with his elbow, police said.
McCandless said the student was a friend of Hoang's.
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said MSU has many weapons charges, but this case was unique.
"We see too many weapons charges, but we don't have people pulling swords out of their bags," Dunnings said.
IM Sports-West manager Sally Belloli said this sort of confrontation is unheard of at the sports facility.
"I've been here for 15 years and I don't think I can remember someone bringing in a weapon," Belloli said. "This is a very unusual occurrence."
Hoang's pretrial conference is set for the 1 p.m. June 11 and a preliminary exam is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 12.
Joseph Montes can be reached at montesjo@msu.edu.
