According to Syracuse Police, Xiaoteng Zhan, an international student at Syracuse University, was plotting some type of attack. 

"We know that he made threats towards other people, unspecified, so it's unclear if it would be made for Syracuse Univesrity," said Syracuse Police Department Deputy Chief Derek McGork.

But his plot was quickly thwarted by one person simply noticing red flags and reporting them. John Laubscher owns The Gun Shop in Cazenovia. On March 12, after a failed attempt to purchase a gun elsewhere, Zhan went to The Gun Shop to buy an AR-style rifle, but the types available in New York didn't seem to suit his needs.

So Zhan asked for something more powerful.

"And then he wanted the shotgun with the biggest capacity possible," said Laubscher.

Laubscher says the request wasn't anything unusual, so they continued the process with a background check. Because Zhan was not a U.S. citizen and here on a student visa, he needed to present a reason to purchase a gun. 

"A reason would be to hunt. You need a valid hunting license. He had one, and he was able to produce that," he said.

Soon after, Laubscher came to suspect something was awry. He asked Zhan where he was going to learn to use the gun. 

"He said 'I'm going to learn back at school, back in the classroom.' I attended SU. They don't offer classes like that," said Laubscher.

After Zhan left the store, Laubscher decided to contact authorities. Laubscher's report led to an investigation where police discovered ammunition and other evidence in Zhan's apartment.

On March 13, Zhan traveled to Mexico for spring beak. He was picked up by police on March 19 while returning to the U.S., and deported the next day. Police say a tragedy was likely averted.

For Laubscher, the reporting was just part of his job, but the events that followed have left him rattled.

"I have a very uneasy feeling that this could have happen in our hometown, here in Syraucse. It could happen right anywhere, but the fact that it could happen right here is scary," he said.