Haney formally charged following gunman story
By Jason Reagan
reagan@mountaintimes.com

Boone Police say an Appalachian State University student who spun a yarn which sparked the school's first-ever lockdown has been formally charged with filing a false report.

On Friday, BPD detective Matt Stevens said Matthew Haney, a Raleigh native, is charged with one count of misdemeanor filing of a false report.

Haney, 22, is free on a $500 unsecured bond and was assigned an April 22 court date in Watauga County District Court.

On Monday, Haney told police he came home to his apartment near Hill Street behind the Holmes Convocation Center to find a masked man.

“I came home and found a guy in my apartment. He was by my TV. I think he was trying to steal it,” Haney said in a video interview.

Haney, a senior English major, claimed the armed suspect wore a black mask, black Pink Floyd T-shirt, dark jacket, red and green tennis shoes and blue jeans. Haney also claimed the man pointed a small, black pistol at him and both men fled. The student said the suspect ran into the woods and Haney drove to the apartment’s management office to make a police report.

At noon on Tuesday, Stevens released a statement announcing that Haney admitted to fabricating his account following a morning interview. Haney’s false report led to the first lockdown in ASU history.

“No armed or masked suspect was involved at any incident at the victim’s address,” Stevens said.
“Subsequent witness sightings of an unarmed and unmasked man who matched the physical description given are now known to have been unnecessary and unrelated.”

During the Tuesday interview, Haney told police he came home to a damaged door. Stevens said Haney reported the damage to his landlord and said someone had attempted to break in. His story escalated from that point.

Police had questioned Haney again during the Monday-night lockdown and he maintained his story, Steven said.

Stevens said he felt Haney did not intend to cause the lockdown and he has no criminal history. "I don't feel this report was made maliciously," he said.

Stevens said Haney faces misdemeanor charges of filing a false police report.

ASU police chief Gunther Doerr said a copy of Haney’s arrest report would be forwarded to the student conduct office and be reviewed from that point.