Idaho Cyclist Charged in Knife Threat Incident Before Student Murders

A cyclist who allegedly threatened students with a knife on the University of Idaho campus in September has been charged, authorities said.

However, the Moscow Police Department has said the man isn't connected to the ongoing investigation into the murders of four students in an off-campus house in November.

Reports of the September 12 incident surfaced after Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found dead in the house on November 13. Police have yet to identify a suspect in the case, leaving the quiet university town on edge.

The September incident involved an "argument between a group of people walking on a bike path and a cyclist," police said. "It was reported that during the confrontation, the cyclist displayed a folding knife. Both parties dispersed, and there were no injuries."

Moscow City Attorney Mia Bautista confirmed to Newsweek on Wednesday that her office had filed a criminal complaint against the cyclist. The person is facing a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of a deadly weapon, Bautista said.

On Wednesday, Moscow Police said the cyclist "turned himself in to the police. The case was investigated and misdemeanor charges were referred to the Moscow City Attorney's Office. There is no connection with the individual involved in this incident and the current murder investigations."

Days after the murders, it was reported that the university's campus security had issued an alert with the subject line "Threat with Knife" warning students about the incident.

Police "received a report that a group of students was walking between the Steam Plant parking lot (Lot #14) and the Student Recreation Center on Paradise Path and were threatened by a person with a knife," the alert said, according to Fox News.

"No individual was harmed in the incident, but campus community members are advised to be cautious." The alert said the suspect was a white male, aged between 18 and 22.

The University of Idaho has been contacted for comment.

Moscow Police on Wednesday also clarified that detectives don't know if the slain students or their residence were "specifically targeted."

Police have repeatedly said they believed the murders were targeted, but declined to specify why they think that or which of the victims they think were targeted.

But Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson this week gave conflicting comments to reporters, which Moscow Police said was "a miscommunication."

"Detectives do not currently know if the residence or any occupants were specifically targeted but continue to investigate," police said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of students gathered inside the university's stadium on Wednesday night for a vigil to honor the four slain students.